Source: Yankees Reach Deal With Freddy Garcia
NEW YORK (AP/WFAN) -- Free agent pitcher Freddy Garcia and the New York Yankees have reached agreement on a minor league deal, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Monday night.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not officially been announced. The contract could be worth up to $5.1 million, and it also lets Garcia 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.
The Yankees are still waiting to hear whether Andy Pettitte will pitch for them this year. Last week they reached a deal with former Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon on a minor league contract. 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.
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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