Former White Sox Pitcher, Garcia Signs With Yankees
According to a report by the Associated Press, former White Sox pitcher Freddy Garcia has signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees.
The AP source spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been officially announced. The deal could be worth as much as $5.1 million and would allow Garcia to opt out by March 29.
The 35-year-old Garcia went 12-6 with a 4.64 ERA in 28 starts last season for the Chicago White Sox. The righty is a two-time All-Star and has a career record of 133-87 in 12 seasons with Seattle, Philadelphia, Detroit and the White Sox.
Spring training starts for the Yankees in two weeks in Tampa, Fla., and their rotation is still unsettled.
New York hopes to hear shortly whether 38-year-old Andy Pettitte will return for another season. CC Sabathia remains the Yankees' ace and Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett are assured spots, with Sergio Mitre and young Ivan Nova as possibilities to start.
Former Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon and the Yankees agreed on a minor league contract last week.
Garcia bounced back from three injury-interrupted season to pitch well for the White Sox last season. The Yankees got a close-up look at him when he threw seven impressive innings to beat them in Chicago on Aug. 27. Garcia also lost at Yankee Stadium in late April.
Garcia enjoyed successful, durable years early in his career with Seattle. He went 17-8 as a rookie in 1999 and was 18-6 with an AL-leading 3.05 ERA and 238 2-3 innings in 2001. He was an All-Star for Seattle in 2001 and 2002.
In seven of his first eight seasons, Garcia made at least 30 starts and pitched at least 200 innings.
Garcia won a total of five games for the Phillies, Tigers and White Sox from 2007-09 before showing flashes of his old self last year.
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