Cubs, Floyd reach agreement

Free agent outfielder and first baseman Cliff Floyd agreed Wednesday to a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs after spending four seasons with the New York Mets. The deal includes a mutual option for 2008.

Floyd, a Chicago native, was limited to 332 at-bats last year because of an injured Achilles' tendon and will likely serve as a backup with the Cubs. Alfonso Soriano is expected to start in center, with Matt Murton in left and Jacque Jones in right.

The 34-year-old Floyd had surgery on his left foot in October, after hitting .244 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs. The Mets replaced him in left field with Moises Alou, a free agent who agreed to a contract in October.

An All-Star with the Florida Marlins in 2001, Floyd batted .273 with 34 homers and 98 RBIs for the Mets in 2005. He has a .279 average, 213 home runs and 781 RBIs during a career that began with the Montreal Expos in 1993.