Brian Fuentes near 2-year deal with A's

The A's, the busiest team in the American League West, are close to finalizing a two-year deal with left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes, a source familiar with negotiations confirmed Sunday.

Fuentes, 35, who produced a 2.81 ERA and saved 24 games - 23 for the Angels, one for the Twins - would join a bullpen that's adding another free agent, Grant Balfour, who had a 2.28 ERA for the Rays.

A four-time All-Star who led the AL with 48 saves in 2009, Fuentes is expected to receive more than the $8.1 million committed over two years to Balfour.

The bullpen also includes closer Andrew Bailey, who's coming off elbow surgery, Michael Wuertz, Brad Ziegler and lefties Craig Breslow and Jerry Blevins. Plus, if healthy, Rich Harden and Joey Devine.

The A's would announce the Fuentes and Balfour acquisitions after they pass physicals.

- John Shea

-- Joey Votto, who powered the Reds to their first playoff appearance in 15 years, winning the NL MVP award for a breakthrough season, agreed to a $38 million, three-year contract with Cincinnati, a source said, buying out his arbitration years. He made $525,000 last year.

-- Reliever Carlos Villanueva and the Blue Jays avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $1.415 million, one-year contract.

ELSEWHERE

Barcelona's roll hits 28 matches

Barcelona extended its unbeaten streak to a club-record 28 games, defeating Malaga 4-1 to open a four-point lead in the Spanish league over second-place Real Madrid, which was held to a surprising 1-1 tie at last-place Almeria. Barcelona set a Spanish league record with 52 points at the season's halfway point.

-- Manchester United survived the second-half ejection of right back Rafael to hold Tottenham to a 0-0 draw and remain on top of the Premier League. ... AC Milan allowed a late goal in a 1-1 draw at Lecce, missing a chance to extend its lead atop Serie A after second-place Napoli tied a day earlier.

Swimming: Ryan Lochte beat Michael Phelps in the 200-meter individual medley in the last of their head-to-head showdowns in the Austin Grand Prix in Texas. Lochte finished in 1 minute, 59.26 seconds, well off his world record of 1:54:10. Eric Shanteau edged Phelps for second.

Marathon: Josh Cox won the Arizona Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, then kept on going to smash his American record for 50 kilometers by 3 1/2 minutes, missing the world mark by just 7 seconds. Cox completed the 31.2 miles in 2 hours, 43 minutes, 45 seconds after finishing the marathon in 2:17:32 to beat Solomon Kandie of Kenya by 1:08.

This article appeared on page B - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle