He Gone

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Anaheim Angels took one of the top pitchers off the free-agent market, agreeing Tuesday to a four-year contract with Bartolo Colon.

Anaheim had offered a deal worth about $48 million, four-year contract, one baseball official familiar with the negotiations had said Monday.

This might not be Anaheim's only blockbuster deal. If the Alex Rodriguez-Manny Ramirez deal goes through, five-time All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra would be out of a job. It's believed the Red Sox might try to trade him to the Angels for a pitcher, possibly Jarrod Washburn, or second baseman Adam Kennedy.

The Chicago White Sox badly wanted Colon back, with general manager Ken Williams offering a three-year contract worth a reported $36 million -- the largest ever for a White Sox pitcher. But Colon rejected the offer in October.

Though the White Sox offered Colon salary arbitration Sunday night, Williams seemed resigned Monday to losing the 20-game winner.

Colon was only 15-13 with a 3.87 ERA this year, but he's coveted for his durability and consistency. He's a 20-game winner who has reached double-digit victories in six straight seasons.

He pitched a career-high nine complete games this year, and was second in the AL with 242 innings. His 173 strikeouts also ranked in the top 10. In seven seasons with Cleveland, Montreal and Chicago, the 30-year-old Colon is 100-62 with a 3.86 ERA.