The Yankees and Freddy Garcia have agreed to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training. This is the second veteran pitcher signed to a minor league deal for the Yankees, with the first being Bartolo Colon. Garcia's base salary will be 1.5 million dollars with a potential 3.6 million dollars in incentives.
With Andy Pettitte most likely done, and Cliff Lee sporting red pinstripes, the Yankees pitching staff is not nearly as good as everyone thought it would be. Yes, the Yanks have C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Phil Hughes, but Burnett is a question mark and Sergio Mitre, Ivan Nova, and a combination of non-roster invitees and fringe rotation pitchers battling for the final two spots is hardly something to be content with.
Having Garcia and Colon in the fold, along with Mark Prior, mind you... will at the very least give the Yankees pitching depth so they can have options in picking the best starting rotation to go up against the surging Red Sox.