Wilson lands in Anaheim

DALLAS

C.J. Wilson strolled through the hotel lobby, posed for a picture with two babies and waved to a few Texas Rangers fans.

Waved goodbye, actually.

The Los Angeles Angels turned their own double play Thursday by landing a pair of prize free agents, adding Wilson to a roster suddenly boosted by the acquisition of Albert Pujols.

“Last night was crazy,” Wilson said. “It was like minute-by-minute.”

Wilson agreed to a five-year contract worth $77.5 million. Pujols got a $254 million, 10-year deal. Both are subject to the All-Stars passing physicals.

Wilson was 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA with Texas last season, helping the Rangers reach their second straight World Series. Now, the 31-year-old lefty is joining the team that finished 10 games behind Texas in the AL West.

Harang signs with Dodgers

Pitcher Aaron Harang agreed Thursday to a $12 million, two-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, filling out their projected starting rotation for next season.

The 33-year-old right-hander was 14-7 with a career-low 3.64 ERA in 28 starts for his hometown San Diego Padres last season. He joins a rotation that includes NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly and fellow newcomer Chris Capuano, who signed a $10 million, two-year deal last week.

Harang is 95-94 with a 4.25 ERA with Oakland (2002-03), Cincinnati (2003-10) and San Diego (2011).

His deal includes salaries of $3 million next year and $7 million in 2013, with a $2 million buyout of a 2014 mutual option at $7 million to $8 million.

“Aaron gives us added depth and another veteran arm to add to our starting rotation,” general manager Ned Colletti said. “He had a solid year with the Padres last season, and his addition gives us an experienced one through five heading into Spring training.”

Agent: Gonzalez, Brewers reach deal

The Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to terms with free-agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez, his agent tells The Associated Press.

Agent Eric Goldschmidt confirms the Brewers’ deal with Gonzalez is for one year with a vesting option. The team didn’t immediately announce the deal, which was reported by Fox Sports earlier Thursday.

The 34-year-old Gonzalez played 149 games for the Atlanta Braves last season, hitting .241 with 15 home runs and 56 RBIs. He committed 12 errors.

Japan’s Darvish says he plans to head to majors

Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish ended months of speculation Thursday by saying he intends to make a move to Major League Baseball.

The 25-year-old right-hander, considered the best pitcher in the Japanese professional leagues, wrote on his blog that he had decided to use the posting system, which allows MLB teams to bid for the negotiating rights to Japanese players who have yet to become free agents.

“I have decided to use the posting system,” he said. “I wanted to tell my fans directly, so that is why I am posting this on my blog.”

Darvish, the son of an Iranian father and a Japanese mother, went 18-6 with a 1.44 ERA this season for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. He had 276 strikeouts to lead the Pacific League.

Astros introduce Jeff Luhnow as general manager

New Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow is confident he can turn the Astros into a winner.

That doesn’t mean he expects the turnaround to be swift for a team that finished with the worst record in baseball last season at 56-106.

Luhnow was a vice president with the St. Louis Cardinals last season. He takes over for Ed Wade, who was fired late last month in the first major move by new Astros owner Jim Crane.

Luhnow wouldn’t give a timeframe for when he thinks the Astros will be able to contend. But he did say that “it’s going to be a challenge and it’s going to be years.”

Crane says that Luhnow signed a multi-year contract, but wouldn’t provide any further details.