By The Associated Press

BOSTON – Julian Tavarez and the Red Sox reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday on a $6.7 million, two-year contract as Boston added another newcomer to its rebuilt bullpen.

The reliever must pass a physical for the deal to be finalized, a person familiar with the negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity because Boston has not yet announced the agreement. The physical is likely to take place Thursday.

Tavarez, a 32-year-old right-hander, gets a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $3.1 million in each of the next two seasons. The agreement also includes a club option for 2008 of $3.85 million. That option would become guaranteed if Tavarez appears in a total of 125 games in the next two seasons or 65 games in 2007.

The Red Sox also agreed with infielder Tony Graffanino on a $2.05 million, one-year contract that avoids a salary arbitration hearing. He hit .319 as their starting second baseman after being acquired from Kansas City last July 19 and is expected to compete for a utility position after Boston acquired Mark Loretta to start at second base from San Diego for backup catcher Doug Mirabelli.

Since finishing last season with an AL-high 5.17 bullpen ERA, the Red Sox have added two other right-handed relievers. They picked up Guillermo Mota in a trade that also brought pitcher Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell from Florida and signed free agent Rudy Seanez, who spent last season with San Diego.

Boston still has right-hander Mike Timlin, who had an outstanding 2005 season out of the bullpen. The team has said Keith Foulke, who struggled last season when he was hampered by injuries and had knee surgery in July, will start spring training in his usual closer’s role.

Tavarez, who had been with seven teams since reaching the majors in 1993 with Cleveland, gave up a key home run to Boston’s Mark Bellhorn in the opener of the 2004 World Series. The two-run shot off the right-field foul pole broke a 9-9 tie in the eighth inning and gave Boston an 11-9 win against St. Louis. The Red Sox swept the Series in four games.

Tavarez, has a 72-55 record, 4.33 ERA and 21 saves in 642 appearances. Last season he went 2-3 with a 3.43 ERA and four saves in 74 games.

In one stretch, he spent six consecutive seasons with six different teams. After four years with Cleveland and three with San Francisco, he spent one each with Colorado, the Chicago Cubs, Florida and Pittsburgh before joining St. Louis in 2003 when he went 7-4 with a 2.38 ERA and four saves in 77 games.

Maroth, Inge sign deals with Tigers

DETROIT – Mike Maroth agreed Wednesday to a $5.25 million, two-year contract with the Detroit Tigers and third baseman Brandon Inge signed off on a $3 million, one-year deal.

Maroth was 14-14 with a 4.74 ERA last season, when he had 115 strikeouts and 51 walks in 209 innings. The 28-year-old left-hander went 9-21 in 2003, becoming the first pitcher since 1980 to lose 20 games. He bounced back the next year with an 11-13 record and a 4.31 ERA.

Detroit will pay Maroth $2.3 million this year and $2.95 million in 2007.

Inge, who also is 28, batted .261 with 16 homers and 72 RBIs last year. Primarily a catcher during his first four seasons in Detroit, he played 160 games at third base last season – the most by a Tiger at that position since Aurelio Rodriguez’s 160 in 1973. Detroit has four players remaining eligible for salary arbitration: right-handers Jeremy Bonderman and Chris Spurling; outfielder Craig Monroe and first baseman Carlos Pena.

A’s agree to deals with Bradley, Calero

OAKLAND, Calif. – Outfielder Milton Bradley and right-hander Kiko Calero agreed to one-year contracts with the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, avoiding arbitration.

Bradley, hoping to return to his top form after a season-ending left knee injury Aug. 23 that required surgery, will receive $3 million with the chance to earn an additional $200,000 in performance bonuses. Calero receives an $850,000 salary.

“We’ve been discussing them for the last couple weeks,” assistant general manager David Forst said.

“We felt good about it and we were confident we’d get them done before we had to file numbers.”

The A’s acquired the switch-hitting Bradley in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Dec. 13 to upgrade their offense and hit around Eric Chavez. Bradley, who became known for his volatile behavior last season that included a run-in with teammate Jeff Kent, is expected to be Oakland’s starting right fielder.

A’s general manager Billy Beane said when he dealt for Bradley that the past is the past and he believes the outfielder will fit in well in Oakland’s laid-back clubhouse.

Bradley agreed, and said he has been misunderstood at times.

“I’m all about winning. I’m not going out there to just go through the motions and have fun,” he said last month.

The 27-year-old Bradley batted .290 with 13 homers and 38 RBIs in 283 at-bats last season. He was limited to 75 games, missing extensive playing time because of a torn ligament in his right ring finger.

Bradley hit .267 with 19 homers and 67 RBIs in 141 games for the Dodgers in 2004, and .321 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs in 101 games for the Indians in 2003.

The 31-year-old Calero made 58 relief appearances in his first season for the A’s in 2005, going 4-1 record with a 3.23 ERA and earning one save. He allowed opponents to hit .216 against him, including .170 to first batters faced – which ranked sixth lowest among American League relievers.

Outfielder Bobby Kielty agreed to a $1.85 million, one-year contract with the A’s on Monday.

The A’s have three more arbitration-eligible players yet to be signed: right-handed pitcher Juan Cruz, catcher Adam Melhuse and second baseman Mark Ellis.

“Two more done, three to go,” Forst said. “I think we’re making good progress. We’re happy with the timing on both Kiko and Milton.”