A person familiar with the negotiations says the New York Yankees were working toward an agreement with outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million.
Ellsbury, who helped Boston win the World Series this year, would be the second major free-agent addition in the Yankees' offseason rebuilding. He was to take a physical in New York on Wednesday, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
New York had not yet finalized any deal with Ellsbury, a second person familiar with the talks said Tuesday night.
The Yankees also had been negotiating with Shin-Soo Choo, who like Ellsbury is represented by agent Scott Boras.
Earlier Tuesday, New York finalized an $85 million, five-year contract with All-Star catcher Brian McCann. McCann, 29, hit .256 with 20 homers and 57 RBIs in 102 games for Atlanta this year.
• The Oakland Athletics acquired AL saves leader Jim Johnson from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night as a replacement for All-Star closer Grant Balfour, who is expected to leave in free agency. The A's got Johnson for infielder Jemile Weeks and a player to be named.
Clark chosen to lead players union
Tony Clark said he's "blown away" that he is the first former major leaguer to become head of the baseball players union.
The executive board of the Major League Baseball Players Association voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Clark to replace Michael Weiner, who died Nov. 21 of brain cancer. The decision is pending a vote of the general membership.
Clark, 41, was an All-Star first baseman in 2001 and played for 15 seasons in the majors. He had been acting executive director since Weiner's death.
From wire reports