NEW YORK (AP) -The New York Yankees made another splashy addition to their starting rotation, reaching a preliminary agreement on an $82.5 million, five-year contract with A.J. Burnett just two days after striking a $161 million, seven-year deal with CC Sabathia.
Burnett joins a rotation that also includes holdovers Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain. New York is hoping to re-sign Andy Pettitte and has looked at Ben Sheets as an alternative.
“I can sense the excitement and the confidence that’s spreading around the entire organization about what we’re getting done and what we may get done still,” Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said earlier Friday, before Burnett’s decision became known. “A rising tide lifts all boats, and the confidence and the excitement right now among the team and the organization is contagious.”
Burnett won 10 of his last 12 decisions and finished 18-10 with a 4.07 ERA for Toronto. He set career highs in wins, strikeouts (231) and innings (221 1-3).
e World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies added to their offense when they reached a preliminary agreement on a $31.5 million, three-year deal with slugging outfielder Raul Ibanez.
The deals for Sabathia, Burnett and Ibanez all are subject to the players passing physicals.
Three other lower-level free agents finalized deals, with Cincinnati acquiring left-hander Arthur Rhodes ($4 million for two years), Arizona getting infielder Felipe Lopez ($3.5 million for one year) and Pittsburgh picking up infielder Ramon Vazquez ($4 million for two years).
The Chicago White Sox finalized an international deal, agreeing to a $10 million, four-year contract with Cuban infielder Dayan Viciedo.
And in the day’s one trade, the New York Mets dealt left-hander Scott Schoeneweis to the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor league right-hander Connor Robertson. New York agreed to pay $1.6 million to Arizona to cover part of the $3.6 million salary for Schoeneweis, who went 0-3 with a blown save and a 5.40 ERA in September as the Mets collapsed down the stretch for the second straight year.
Milwaukee left-hander Chris Capuano became a free agent when the Brewers failed to offer a 2009 contract, deciding it didn’t want to go to salary arbitration. Capuano missed last season after injuring his pitching elbow in an exhibition game in March.
23 homers and 58 RBIs in 111 games last season.
“Economics forced us to make this decision,” Astros general manager Ed Wade said. “If there is an opportunity for us to adjust our payroll later in the offseason, we’d like to see if there’s an opportunity to bring him back.”
Also let go were Tampa Bay outfielder Jonny Gomes, Colorado outfielder Willy Taveras and San Diego right-hander Clay Hensley.
Several players eligible for arbitration agreed to contracts, including Washington outfielder Willie Harris, who got a $3 million, two-year contract. The Chicago Cubs agreed to one-year deals with right-hander Chad Gaudin ($2 million) and left-hander Neal Cotts ($1.1 million).
Also agreeing to one-year contracts were White Sox outfielder DeWayne Wise ($550,000), Detroit infielder Ramon Santiago and Oakland catcher Rob Bowen.
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