The Associated Press

Free-agent shortstop Miguel Tejada expects to sign a contract over the weekend, but he wouldn't say with which team.

The 27-year-old Tejada - the 2002 American League MVP - has played all seven of his major-league seasons with the Oakland Athletics. The low-budget A's have said they can't afford to give him the long-term deal he wants.

The A's offered Tejada salary arbitration Sunday, although it seems unlikely they'll re-sign him. General manager Billy Beane said Wednesday he is focused on re-signing closer Keith Foulke and the A's probably can't afford both players.

The Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers are interested in Tejada, along with several other teams that may need a shortstop and have more money to spend than the A's.

"My agent has been exchanging concrete offers with the teams that have showed interest," Tejada told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from his home in Santo Domingo.

"This weekend could be decisive for my future. I hope to have a firm contract, or at least be close to signing, during the weekend."

The baseball winter meetings begin today in New Orleans and go through Monday.

ROYALS: Benito Santiago, a veteran catcher with savvy to help young pitchers and plenty of pop in his bat, is just what the Royals were looking for when they signed him Thursday to a $4.3 million, two-year contract.

Santiago, 38, has a .263 career average, with 1,776 hits, 312 doubles, 211 home runs and 897 RBI.

Santiago joins the Royals after playing for seven other teams, including the Reds. He played for the San Francisco Giants the past three seasons. Last season, he hit .279 with 21 doubles, 11 home runs and 56 RBI in 108 games.

WHITE SOX: Left-hander Mark Buehrle agreed Thursday to a three-year, $18 million deal with the White Sox. The contract includes a club option for 2007.

Buehrle will receive $3.5 million in 2004, $5.75 million in 2005 and $7.75 million in 2006. The club holds an option at $9.5 million for 2007 with a $1 million buyout.

Buehrle made $445,000 last season after the White Sox renewed his contract when he and the team couldn't come to terms on a long-term deal.

Buehrle, 24, went 14-14 with a 4.14 ERA in a career-high 35 starts in 2003.

MARINERS: Seattle agreed to multiyear contracts Thursday with two key contributors from last season, switch-hitting outfielder Randy Winn and right-hander Ryan Franklin.

Winn received a deal that guarantees him $11 million over three years. Franklin got a $4.3 million, two-year contract.

Winn hit .295 last season with 11 homers and 75 RBI.

Franklin, who earned $425,000 last season, gets a $200,000 signing bonus, $1.7 million next year and $2.4 million in 2005.

He went 11-13 with a 3.57 ERA, ranking ninth in the AL. Franklin had career highs in wins, innings (212), starts (32), complete games (two) and strikeouts (99).

YANKEES: New York Yankees Jeff Nelson and Karim Garcia are to appear in court today to determine if they will face charges for a bullpen fight with a Boston Red Sox employee.

Police say the players assaulted Paul Williams, a part-time groundskeeper who had been working in the Yankee bullpen during the AL championship series with the Red Sox.

But Nelson says Williams assaulted him, and he's seeking counter charges against Williams in a complaint that also will be considered Friday. Both players have said Williams provoked the fight by cheering for the Red Sox in the bullpen.

If probable cause is found that any of them committed assault and battery, charges will be issued.

EXPOS - Montreal released a schedule Thursday that calls for 22 games to be played in San Juan, even though an agreement with the Puerto Rican promoter has yet to be finalized.

The 2004 schedule has the Expos playing 59 games at Olympic Stadium and 22 "home" games in Puerto Rico, all before the All-Star break.

Rich Levin, a spokesman for the commissioner's office, said the agreement with promoter Antonio Munoz would not be completed until next week.

Montreal's games in San Juan would be against the New York Mets (April 9-11), Florida (April 13-15), Milwaukee (May 18-20), San Francisco (May 21-23), Toronto (July 2-4), Atlanta (July 5-7) and Pittsburgh (July 8-11).

RED SOX: Red Sox manager Terry Francona has heard the trade speculation: Manny Ramirez for Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra to a West Coast team.

Just one week into his job, Francona isn't sure which star shortstop will be on his team but he's excited about the one he already has.

"I don't need to talk about anybody else's players," he said Thursday. "As far as I'm concerned, Nomar's our shortstop and I'm thrilled with that. You've got a player who's one of the better players in baseball, so that's not a real tough thing to say."

"Hopefully, it'll be over soon enough, one way or another," said infielder Lou Merloni, who talked with Garciaparra several times this week.

PHILLIES: Philadelphia reliever Dan Plesac retired Thursday, ending an 18-year career. He appeared in 1,064 games, fourth on baseball's all-time list.

Plesac and the Phillies had been negotiating a new contract and the club offered salary arbitration to him on Sunday. Instead, Plesac told general manager Ed Wade that was going to retire to spend more time with his family.

The 41-year-old was 2-1 with two saves and a 2.70 ERA in 58 appearances last season with the Phillies.

Plesac passed Lee Smith and Kent Tekulve on the appearances list and needed only six more to tie Hoyt Wilhelm for third place.

Plesac finished with a career record of 65-71 with 158 saves and a 3.64 ERA.