In reaching agreement with Freddy Garcia on a one-year contract for about $5 million, the Yankees retained a veteran pitcher they liked and alleviated their anxiety about engaging in a free-agent market that doesn't impress them and a trade market that doesn't encourage them.
Garcia, 35, will earn about $5 million to pitch for the Yankees next year, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed. The New York Times first reported that Garcia and the Yankees were closing in on a deal.
Garcia was 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) in 2011. He and Bartolo Colon stunned the Yankees with excellent results in 2011, helping the team record an AL-leading 97 victories. A Garcia return particularly interested the Yankees because he pitched fairly well for the White Sox in 2010, because of Garcia's leadership in the clubhouse and because of his youth relative to Colon, 38. (continue)
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