VIERA, Fla. — Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and the Washington Nationals agreed to a $3,325,000, one-year contract, avoiding arbitration.

Zimmerman was the last player in the major leagues scheduled for an arbitration hearing. His was to take place yesterday in Phoenix, which is why he missed Washington's first full-squad workout of spring training Thursday.

He was the last Nationals player without a contract in place for the coming season.

"He's the face of this franchise, so it's totally different when he's here with us," manager Manny Acta said. "We can't wait to get him here."

Zimmerman planned to be at the team's camp today and speak to reporters then.

He and the Nationals met at the midpoint of their arbitration figures: Zimmerman had submitted $3.9 million, while the Nationals had countered with $2.75 million.

The agreement includes performance bonuses of $75,000 for 500 plate appearances, and $50,000 each for 550 and 600 plate appearances.

"We've continued to talk about a multiyear (contract). We were talking about it yesterday; we're going to keep talking about it tomorrow," Nationals president Stan Kasten said. "That would be an end result both sides would like to see. We're just not there yet. We're going to keep talking about it. If we can do it, we'll do it."

DODGERS

HUDSON AGREES TO ONE YEAR, $3.8 MILLION

Orlando Hudson has reached an agreement on a $3.8 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who would use the former All-Star to replace retired second baseman Jeff Kent.

The deal is contingent on Hudson's passing a physical, a person familiar with the negotiations said yesterday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Dodgers have not announced the agreement.

A three-time Gold Glove winner and .282 career hitter, Hudson had season-ending surgery on his left wrist during each of the past two years with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

ORIOLES

ROBERTS' DEAL FINALIZED AFTER PASSING PHYSICAL

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts had a $40 million contract extension waiting for him to sign after yesterday's workout. Typical of the attitude he brings to the team, he insisted first on running sprints in the outfield.

Everything else could wait.

With his cardio exercises done, Roberts scribbled his name on a new four-year deal, which begins in 2010. He already was due $8 million this year and would have been eligible for free agency after the World Series. His new deal calls for salaries of $10 million annually through 2013.

"The city of Baltimore has really become my second home," Roberts said. "North Carolina, where I grew up, will always be my first, I guess, but I've come to love the city, the fans."

Roberts is a career .284 hitter since breaking into the majors in 2001. Last year, he set career highs with 181 hits, 51 doubles and eight triples, and finished in the top 25 in the American League in 15 categories, including runs (third with 107) and stolen bases (fourth with 40).

RED SOX

SORE SHOULDER KEEPS ORTIZ FROM WORKOUTS

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has been held out of spring training workouts for the second straight day with general soreness in his left shoulder.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona says yesterday that Ortiz is much better than Thursday, when he slept on the shoulder awkwardly. Francona says Ortiz also is feeling the effects from throwing during fielding practice earlier in the week.

Francona says the soreness isn't considered serious and won't require an extensive exam. He says Ortiz has been getting his work done indoors.

Ortiz has said he expects to return to full activity over the weekend.

YANKEES

MLB INTERESTED IN A-ROD'S CONTACTS

Major League Baseball investigators want to talk with Alex Rodriguez about his cousin and a trainer from the Dominican Republic.

The interviews were disclosed yesterday by a person familiar with their plans who spoke on condition of anonymity because MLB wasn't confirming the meetings.

The New York Yankees star has said his cousin injected him from 2001-03 with a banned substance obtained in the Dominican called "boli." The cousin was identified by ESPN.com as Yuri Sucart of Miami.

MLB wants to find out if Rodriguez still associates with the cousin.

In addition, the Daily News said Angel Presinal, a Dominican trainer well known throughout baseball, traveled with A-Rod and the cousin during the 2007 season. Presinal has been banned from entering baseball clubhouses.

"I'm not getting into any of that," Rodriguez said.

Speaking yesterday at the Yankees' spring training complex in Tampa, Fla., Rodriguez said he expected the meeting will be in the Tampa area. MLB would like to speak with him before he joins the Dominican team early next month ahead of the World Baseball Classic.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Presinal never had access to the team's clubhouse or charter flights.

"He has no affiliation with and has never worked in any capacity for the New York Yankees," he said.