MLB roundup: Rangers lock up Martin Perez, Stephen Drew will reject QO

The Texas Rangers signed young lefty Martin Perez to a four-year deal worth at least $12.5 million on Thursday, as first reported by Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The contract also includes club options that could extend the deal for three more years.

T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com provides the full breakdown of the deal, which buys out Perez's first two arbitration-eligible seasons while giving Texas an option on his final arbitration season and two years of free agency. If the Rangers were to exercise all of their options under this deal, Perez would remain with the club through 2020.

With free agency under way, Scott Boras is already in full form. The sport's biggest agent appears to be telling teams that free agent shortstop Stephen Drew won't be accepting the qualifying offer he received from the Boston Red Sox:

GM:"Forget Stephen Drew accepting the $14M. Scott(Boras) already has set up a number of meetings on Drew for Tuesday at the GM meetings."

— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) November 8, 2013

Drew hit .253/.333/.443 in 501 plate appearances as the everyday shortstop for the World Series-winning Red Sox. He is expected to seek a multi-year deal coming off a solid, injury-free season and considering Tigers infielder Jhonny Peralta represents the only other obvious option on the shortstop market, his desire to hit the open market isn't surprising.

The Royals and Indians are interested in former Braves pitcher Tim Hudson. Hudson missed the final two months of the season with a fractured ankle, but according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, as many as 10 clubs have expressed interest in the 38-year-old starter.

The Dodgers have made progress in their quest to lock up manager Don Mattingly beyond the 2014 season, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com. No deal has been reached yet, but Shelburne reports that both sides are optimistic it will get done.