The Florida Marlins, who promised to increase their payroll this season after numerous complaints from the player’s union, have put the finishing touches on their $39 million, four-year contract with Josh Johnson.

The righty, whose deal was announced at the construction site of their new 2012 ballpark, went 15-5 with a 3.23 ERA last season. The team also completed one-year deals with infielder Jorge Cantu and reliever Leo Nunez this week. Outfielder Cody Ross, on the other hand, will go to arbitration. He demanded $4.45 million while the Marlins offered $4.2 million after he made just $2.3 million last year.

Joel Pineiro has reportedly agreed to a $16 million, two-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels, subject to a physical. This is a pretty good move by the Halos, considering the hole left by John Lackey, who hit an $82.5 million, five-year jackpot with the Red Sox this offseason.

Pineiro, 31, went 15-12 with a 3.49 ERA last season for the St. Louis Cardinals, his best numbers since 2003 with Seattle.

Interesting news out of Tampa Bay, the Rays have added a 16-year-old kid from the Czech junior national team to their farm system.  Left-handed pitcher Stepan Havlicek, who stands at 6’1″ and a lanky 160 pounds, struck out 13 over 11.3 scoreless innings during the European Juniors Championships in Bonn, Germany. Havlicek will most likely get an invitation to the team’s extended spring training.

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