Major League Baseball

Yanks have agreement with reliever Ayala

Published Feb. 9, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

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The New York Yankees have reached agreement in principle on a minor-league contract with right-handed reliever Luis Ayala, sources told FOXSports.com this morning.

Ayala, 33, has received an invitation to the team’s major league spring training, which begins next week, sources said.

The Yankees hope Ayala can continue the success he enjoyed while pitching in his native Mexico during the winter season. Including the Caribbean Series, which Mexico won, Ayala had a 1.99 ERA and 14 saves in 37 appearances.

He struck out 25 batters, against seven walks, in 40-2/3 innings this winter.

Ayala is coming off a regular season in which he had a 6.42 ERA in 36 outings at Class AAA affiliates of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies.

Ayala pitched in the majors as recently as the 2009 season, for the Minnesota Twins and Florida Marlins. He had his best seasons with the Montreal/Washington franchise from 2003-07.

Ayala missed the entire 2006 season while recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery, after making three appearances in the World Baseball Classic that year.
 

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