Report: Yankees Reach Deal With Luis Ayala
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- According to FOXSports.com, the New York Yankees have agreed in principle to a minor-league deal with righty reliever Luis Ayala.
The Yankees will formally invite Ayala to spring training camp in Tampa, Florida.
Ayala had a strong offseason after spending 2010 bouncing between various Triple-A affiliates for the Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
The relief pitcher had 14 saves and a 1.99 earned run average while pitching for Mexico this winter, including the Caribbean Series. Mexico won its sixth title, defeating Venezuela 3-2.
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Ayala, who last pitched in the majors for the Florida Marlins and Minnesota Twins in 2009, underwent Tommy John surgery in 2006 after his right elbow was injured on a delivery to Alex Rodriguez. He was playing for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic when his elbow gave way.
In 2010, Ayala was involved in an apparent attempted kidnapping by gunmen at his home in the northern Mexico state of Sinaloa.
Neither he nor his family were hurt. He was found handcuffed at the home.
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