Damon meets Boss, prepares for debut

TAMPA, Fla. — New York owner George Steinbrenner and new Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon talked in person Thursday for the first time since the former Boston Red Sox star agreed to a $52 million, four-year contract in December.

"He definitely wants to win," Damon said.

Damon spent an hour at Legends Field, which is the Yankees' spring training home and where Steinbrenner has an office. He toured the facility and also had a "great time" talking with the Boss.

"It's the one thing in my offseason I was really looking forward to," Damon said. "We've talked before, but to see him as a Yankee, it means a lot to me."

An All-Star in 2002 and 2005, Damon takes over the leadoff spot in the batting order, with Derek Jeter moving back to No. 2.

CUBS SIGN PIERRE, OHMAN: The Chicago Cubs agreed to one-year contracts Thursday with new center fielder Juan Pierre and left-handed reliever Will Ohman, avoiding salary arbitration hearings.

Pierre, obtained in a trade with the Florida Marlins in December, made $3.7 million last year. He asked for $6.5 million and the Cubs offered $5 million.

Ohman made $320,000 last season and was looking for a bump to $775,000, while the team countered with an offer of 500,000.

Right-hander Carlos Zambrano is the lone Cubs player remaining in arbitration.

LOPEZ SETTLES: All-Star shortstop Felipe Lopez agreed to a $2.7 million contract Thursday with the Cincinnati Reds, avoiding an arbitration hearing. The deal leaves only first baseman Adam Dunn left in arbitration. Lopez made $415,000 last season, when he hit .291 and made his first All-Star team.

ROCKIES PREVAIL OVER KIM: The Colorado Rockies defeated Sunny Kim on Thursday in the first salary arbitration case of the year, and the pitcher will earn $600,000 rather than the $800,000 he had asked for. The decision was made by arbitrators Stephen Goldberg, Gil Vernon and John Sands, who heard the case Wednesday. A 28-year-old right-hander, Kim went 6-3 with a 4.90 ERA in 10 starts and 14 relief appearances last year for the Washington Nationals and the Rockies. Colorado claimed him off waivers on Aug. 5. Kim made the $316,000 minimum last year.

ASTROS HIRE ROBINSON: The Houston Astros have promoted Dewey Robinson from minor league pitching coordinator to director of pitching development. Robinson joined the Astros in 1997 after spending 10 seasons with the White Sox. Robinson and Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan have been working with Houston's minor league pitching prospects this week.

NATIONALS AGREE TO DEALS: Shortstop Royce Clayton and outfielder George Lombard agreed Thursday to minor league contracts with the Washington Nationals. Washington also sent right-hander Francis Beltran outright to Triple-A New Orleans. He had reconstructive elbow surgery in March and didn't pitch last season.