Kerry Wood wasn't concerned the Cleveland Indians would find a red flag in his massive medical records.

He was certain the elbow X-rays, MRI results on his shoulder and confidential documents would meet approval, clearing him to sign his first free-agent contract.

"With what I've gone through and what I've come back from, there was no doubt in my mind," Wood said. "I was just worried they would need a dolly or two to get it over to them.

"You play for 10 years and a lot can happen."

Wood would know.

The former Chicago Cubs right-hander, who has revived his injury-riddled career as a reliever, finalized a $20.5 million, two-year deal yesterday with the Indians, whose high expectations in 2008 crashed in a succession of early season blown saves by an underachieving and unpredictable bullpen.

In 10 years, Wood, who saved 34 games in his first season finishing for Chicago, has gone from rising star to a question mark, from the front of the rotation to the back of the bullpen, and now from one league to the other.

The closer is starting over.

The 31-year-old gets $10 million next year and $10.5 million in 2010. An $11 million option kicks in if Wood has 55 games finished in either of the next two years.

Cleveland's investment is being viewed by some as risky. After all, Wood has been on the disabled list 12 times. But his only visit last season was for a blister on his right index finger, and the Indians are confident they're making a sound move after scouting Wood and giving him a physical.

"Not only did he hold up for the season, but he was able to pitch three days in a row multiple times," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said.

Wood went 5-4 with a 3.26 ERA and made the All-Star team last season. He struck out 84 batters and walked just 18 in 66 1/3 innings over 65 appearances.

But he fell out of Chicago's plans this winter, when the Cubs acquired reliever Kevin Gregg from Florida as a setup man and moved Carlos Marmol to closer.

METS

NEWLY ACQUIRED K-ROD: N.Y. IS 'TEAM TO BEAT'

New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez has a message for the Philadelphia Phillies and the rest of the NL East.

"Of course, we're going to try to win the division. Of course, we're going to be the front-runner. Of course, we're going to be the team to beat," he said yesterday.

Four days after agreeing to a $37 million, three-year contract, K-Rod was confident the Mets will put consecutive September collapses behind and overtake the World Series champion Phillies in ruling the NL East.

"I don't want there to be a controversy or the other ballclubs in that division to take it personally or take it in a bad way," he said. "If they ask me, 'Oh, which ballclub is going to win the National League East?' It's going to be the Mets. Easy question."

On Thursday, Phillies ace Cole Hamels took a shot at the Mets.

"For the past two years they've been choke artists," he said on WFAN radio.

Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins began the verbal sparring before the 2007 season when he said the Phillies were the team to beat in the division — even though the Mets came within one win of reaching the World Series the previous year.

"Everybody knows what happened, unfortunately. They didn't get the job done. Unfortunately, you know, it happens," Rodriguez said yesterday from Venezuela during a conference call. "We cannot be living with the past. We've just have to get that behind us and get focused."

In a span of four days, the Mets reached a $37 million, three-year deal with K-Rod and acquired J.J. Putz from Seattle.

Rodriguez saved a major league record 62 games for the Los Angeles Angels last season.

ROYALS

RELIEVER FARNSWORTH FINALIZES $9.25M DEAL

Reliever Kyle Farnsworth and Kansas City completed a $9.25 million, two-year contract.

"Kyle Farnsworth's power arm blends in well with the rest of our bullpen," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "We feel his presence will impact our bullpen and make it very strong."

Farnsworth and the Royals had reached a preliminary agreement earlier in the week. Traded July 30 from the New York Yankees to Detroit for catcher Ivan Rodriguez, the hard-throwing right-hander went 2-3 with a 4.48 ERA and one save in 61 appearances overall last season, then filed for free agency.

Farnsworth, of Wichita, Kan., would get $4.25 million next year and $4.5 million in 2010. The deal includes a $5.25 million club option for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout, and Farnsworth could make an additional $750,000 per season in performance bonuses.

The 32-year-old Farnsworth has a 30-48 record and a 4.47 ERA in 612 career appearances for the Chicago Cubs, Detroit, the Atlanta Braves and the Yankees.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound right-hander split the 2008 season between the Yankees and Tigers, posting a 1-2 mark and a 3.65 ERA with New York in 45 games, and a 1-1 record with a 6.75 ERA in 16 outings for Detroit.

NATIONALS

LANGERHANS, ORR SIGN MINOR-LEAGUE CONTRACTS

Outfielder Ryan Langerhans and infielder Pete Orr were among 13 players who agreed to minor-league contracts with Washington.

Langerhans hit .234 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 73 games last season for Washington. Orr batted .253 with seven RBIs in 49 games for the Nationals.

Each of the 13 players received an invitation to spring training.

The other players were: Infielders Freddie Bynum, Brad Eldred, Joel Guzman, and Matt Whitney; outfielders Jorge Padilla and Mike Vento; right-handers Bobby Brownlie, Preston Larrison, J.D. Martin and Ryan Wagner; and left-hander Justin Jones.

ROCKIES

RELIEVER EMBREE AGREES TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT

Colorado and reliever Alan Embree agreed to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2010.

Embree went 2-5 with a 4.96 ERA in 70 games for the Oakland Athletics last season. Oakland had declined its $3 million option on him.

The 38-year-old left-hander played on nine major league teams. He pitched in two World Series, with Cleveland in 1995 and Boston in 2004.

The Rockies also said infielder Jonathan Herrera signed a minor-league contract with the team, with a non-roster invitation to spring training.