The New York Yankees and second baseman Brian Roberts have agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract. The Yankees have also completed a two-year, $7 million deal with left-hander Matt Thornton.
Roberts, who is a two-time All-Star, has spent all 13 years of his major league career with the Baltimore Orioles. He is one of the options for replacing Robinson Cano at second base. Kelly Johnson is another possibility to replace Cano. Roberts hasn’t been playing much the last couple of seasons due to injuries. The injuries which include abdominal strain, concussion, hip surgery, and hamstring surgery have limited him to less than 80 games a year since 2009, according to Bleacher Report. Before then he had a career high 18 homeruns and 50 stolen bases.
Before the 2009 season he had signed a five-year, $48 million contract. Then in 2009 he hit .283 with 16 homeruns, and 79 RBIs. Last season he hit .249 with eight homeruns and 39 RBIs in 77 games, according to the Associated Press.
Thornton replaces Boone Logan who went to Colorado. In 60 relief appearances with the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox, Thornton was 0-4 with a 3.74 ERA. The Red Sox declined a $6 million option for Thornton, which included a $1 million buyout.
Now the Yankees hope that Roberts can return to his pre-2009 form.