Red Sox win Matsuzaka sweepstakes

NAPLES, Fla. -- The Boston Red Sox emerged Tuesday night as winners of the bidding for Daisuke Matsuzaka and have 30 days to sign the Japanese pitcher to a contract.

The Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League announced they had accepted the high bid for their prized pitcher, and the major league commissioner's office simultaneously confirmed at the general managers' meetings that the Red Sox had made the offer.

"We're very pleased and excited. We've long admired Mr. Matsuzaka," Boston general manager Theo Epstein said. "Matsuzaka has a real talent. He would be a great fit with the Red Sox organization.

"We're excited to have won this part of the process. We're hopeful we can reach an agreement."

Agents roamed the lobby at the hotel where GMs are meeting, discussing their free-agent clients. Some agents think the market will move more quickly this offseason because of the decision by management and the players' association to eliminate the Dec. 7 deadline for free agents to re-sign with their former teams unless they were offered salary arbitration.

Second baseman Mark DeRosa became the first major league free agent to switch teams, leaving Texas for a $13 million, three-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.

The Mets re-signed two players, agreeing to a $12 million, two-year contract with 41-year-old pitcher Orlando Hernandez and a $3.8 million, one-year deal with second baseman Jose Valentin.

National hire Acta

WASHINGTON -- Manny Acta was hired by the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, making him the youngest manager in the major leagues.

The 37-year-old Acta, a coach with the New York Mets the past two years, replaces 71-year-old Frank Robinson.

The Nationals went 71-91 in 2006, finishing in last place in the NL East for the third consecutive season.

A's unveil stadium plans

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics unveiled grand plans Tuesday to move south and build a long-awaited, state-of-the-art stadium they hope will soon transform the small-market club into a big spender.

Not to mention elevate the A's to a new status level comparable to the rival Giants across San Francisco Bay -- and perhaps even tap into a Silicon Valley fan base that has largely belonged to San Francisco.

The A's, in partnership with Cisco Systems, Inc., agreed to purchase 143 acres of land from Cisco in suburban Fremont, about 30 miles south of the current stadium. The team intends to break ground in the coming years on a new ballpark that could open in time for the 2011 season.

-- From wire reports