NEW YORK — Making a pair of thrifty deals to fill holes on their roster, the New York Yankees agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract with second baseman Brian Roberts and a $7 million, two-year deal with left-hander Matt
NEW YORK — Making a pair of thrifty deals to fill holes on their roster, the New York Yankees agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract with second baseman Brian Roberts and a $7 million, two-year deal with left-hander Matt Thornton.
The deals are contingent on the players passing physicals, a person familiar with the agreements told The Associated Press on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contracts were not final.
Roberts is among the options at second base to replace Robinson Cano, who left the Yankees for a $240 million, 10-year contract with Seattle. Kelly Johnson, signed to a $3 million deal, is another possibility.
An All-Star in 2005 and 2007, the 36-year-old Roberts had spent his entire 13-year major league career with Baltimore. He has not played a full season since 2009 because of injuries.
Roberts signed a $48 million, five-year contract before the 2009 season, then hit .283 with 16 homers, 79 RBIs and a big league-high 56 doubles.
His injury problems started the following year, when he missed most of spring training with a herniated disk in his back, then strained an abdominal muscle in the fourth game of the season while stealing second base against Toronto.
Roberts came down with pneumonia and didn’t return until July 23. Then he missed the final six games of the season because of a concussion sustained when he knocked himself on the batting helmet with his bat after striking out in the ninth inning at Tampa Bay that Sept. 27.
Roberts had another concussion while sliding into first base against Boston on May 16, 2011, and didn’t return until June 12 the following year. He appeared in just 17 games due to season-ending hip surgery in August, and had another operation for a sports hernia in December.
His total of 77 games last season was his highest in four years, and he hit .249 with eight homers and 39 RBIs.
Roberts strained his right hamstring while stealing second base in Baltimore’s third game of the season April 4 and was sidelined until June 30.
The 37-year-old Thornton replaces Boone Logan, who left for a $16.5 million, three-year contract with Colorado. A 10-year big league veteran, Thornton was 0-4 with a 3.74 ERA in 60 relief appearances this year for the Chicago White Sox and Boston, which acquired him in July for minor league outfielder Brandon Jacobs.
Orioles, Balfour agree to 2-year deal
BALTIMORE — Two weeks after trading their closer to Oakland, the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a two-year, $15 million contract with former Athletics closer Grant Balfour on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the deal.
Balfour’s contract will not be completed until the right-hander passes a physical, the person told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because the transaction had not been announced by the Orioles.
Balfour fills the vacancy left by the trade of closer Jim Johnson, who was dealt to Oakland because Baltimore didn’t want to pay him about $10 million a season. Johnson had 50 saves in each of the past two seasons but was in line for a huge raise.
“It’s really about the allocation of resources and to have a competitive team,” Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said at the time. “You have to have proper balance.”
Balfour is the first significant addition this offseason by the Orioles, who went 85-77 in 2013 but came up short in their bid to reach the postseason for a second straight year.
Balfour, who turns 36 on Dec. 30, went 1-3 with 38 saves in 41 opportunities with Oakland last season. He made $4.5 million with the Athletics in 2013. He had a 2.59 ERA and 72 strikeouts, with 27 walks in 62 2-3 innings.
In 2012, he had 24 saves in 26 chances. In 10 seasons with Minnesota, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay and the Athletics, Balfour is 28-17 with 72 saves and a 3.27 ERA.
The addition of Balfour means the Orioles won’t have to try Tommy Hunter or Darren O’Day at closer. Both likely will be tried in a setup or situational role.
By wire sources
