Dodgers plan to move Garciaparra to first base

LOS ANGELES -- Nomar Garciaparra is moving to first base with the Los Angeles Dodgers, confident it will be a smooth transition.

And at age 32, he thinks he has several good years left no matter what position he plays.

In Boston, Garciaparra was one of baseball's best shortstops and a five-time All-Star who won two batting titles. The Dodgers only hope he approaches that level.

"One-year deals, changing positions, I'm not worried about that," Garciaparra said at a Dodger Stadium news conference Monday -- one day after agreeing to a $6 million, one-year contract that allows him to earn an additional $4 million in performance bonuses.

"If I had something to prove, I wouldn't have had so many teams talking to me," Garciaparra said. "I had opportunities to take more than one year. I could have played short for a couple teams."

Garciaparra was strictly a shortstop after his sophomore year in high school until last season, when he played third base for the Chicago Cubs in August and September.

"As of today, he's a first baseman," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said.

Garciaparra hit .283 with nine homers and 30 RBIs for the Cubs last season.

Pierzynski avoids arbitration

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a three-year, $15 million contract Monday and avoided arbitration.

Pierzynski, who was eligible for free agency in 2006, will earn $4 million next season and $5.5 million each in 2007 and 2008.

Pierzynski helped the White Sox win their first World Series since 1917 last season. He committed one error -- none over the final 119 games -- and batted .257 with a career-high 18 home runs and 56 RBIs.

Mariners land Washburn

Jarrod Washburn and the Mariners agreed to a $37.5 million, four-year contract Monday, giving Seattle the proven starting pitcher it has been looking for this offseason.

The left-hander went 8-8 with a 3.20 ERA in 29 starts for the AL West champion

-- From wire reports