Right fielder Nick Markakis' $66.1 million, six-year contract was finalized yesterday by the Baltimore Orioles.

The agreement covers three years the 25-year-old would have been eligible for arbitration and the first three after he would have been eligible for free agency.

Markakis hit a career-high .306 with 20 homers and 87 RBIs for the Orioles last season, his third in the majors. He played in 157 games, drew 99 walks and led all AL outfielders with 17 assists.

His deal calls for a $2.1 million signing bonus: $1 million payable upon approval and $1.1 million in April 2010.

Markakis gets $3 million this season, $6.75 million in 2010, $10.25 million in 2011, $12 million in 2012 and $15 million each in 2013 and 2014.

The deal includes a $17.5 million mutual option for 2015.

DODGERS

KENT WILL CALL IT A CAREER

Jeff Kent plans to announce his retirement from baseball today at Dodger Stadium.

Kent spent 17 years in the major leagues and leaves as the career home-run leader among second basemen with 351, 74 more than Ryne Sandberg.

He spent the past four seasons with the Dodgers, hitting .291 with 122 doubles, 75 homers and 311 RBIs. Los Angeles issued a statement yesterday announcing the news conference.

A five-time All-Star and the 2000 NL MVP, Kent had a .290 career batting average, 377 homers, 1,518 RBIs and a .500 slugging percentage. He was drafted by Toronto in 1989 and also played for the New York Mets, Cleveland, San Francisco and Houston.

ELSEWHERE

Padres: Free-agent catcher Henry Blanco and San Diego agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract yesterday. A backup most of his career, the 37-year-old Blanco hit .292 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 58 games for the Chicago Cubs last season.

Phillies: Outfielder Jayson Werth and Philadelphia reached a preliminary agreement on a $10 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the situation said yesterday. Werth will receive a $1 million signing bonus, $2 million this season and $7 million in 2010.

Rangers: Texas right-hander Eric Hurley, a first-round pick in 2004, who made his major league debut last year and went 1-2 with a .547 ERA, will likely miss the 2009 season after surgery yesterday to repair a torn rotator cuff.

Omar Vizquel is going to spring training with the Rangers, who want him to mentor 20-year-old shortstop Elvis Andrus. An 11-time Gold Glove winner, the 41-year-old Vizquel agreed to a minor-league deal yesterday that includes an invitation to spring training.