ESPN Free-agent second baseman Brian Roberts has reached an agreement on a one-year contract with the New York Yankees, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN.com.The deal is worth $2 million and includes incentives, a source told ESPNNewYork.com. Roberts, 36, has spent his entire 13-year career with the Baltimore Orioles. He is a two-time All-Star with a .349 career on-base percentage, 278 stolen bases and three seasons of 50 or more doubles, but he’s been plagued by injuries and hasn’t appeared in more than 77 games since 2009. In recent years, Roberts has missed significant amounts of time with concussions and injuries to his neck, back, knee, abdomen, hip and hamstring. He’s appeared in 192 of a possible 648 games over the past four seasons The Yankees have been looking for a second baseman since Robinson Cano signed a $240 million contract with the Seattle Mariners in free agency. New York explored a trade for Cincinnati’s Brandon Phillips and talked to free agent Omar Infante, who eventually signed with Kansas City, before settling on Roberts. Roberts and Kelly Johnson currently slot in as manager Joe Girardi’s principal options at second base. Eduardo Nunez, who has spent most of his time in the big leagues at shortstop and third base, has made 11 career starts at second in New York. Dean Anna, a career minor leaguer the Yankees picked up from San Diego this winter, will also receive a look during spring training.
The Yankees have added second baseman Brian Roberts, as they continue to add options to replace Robinson Cano, who left the team for a ridiculous 10-year $240 million dollar contract. I have always been a fan of Roberts, he is a gritty two-time All-Star who has always played well against the Yankees during his 12-year career with the Baltimore Orioles, and u expect him to be the Yankees starting second baseman on opening day 2014. Roberts is 36 years old, and he has suffered done serious injuries throughout his career, so he is clearly not a long term solution at second base. However, I do like what the Yankees have done this offseason, and I think I will enjoy the 2014 Yankees more than the 2013 team. They need to find starting pitching, but should have a trade to make with too many outfielders on the roster, but I like the offseason additions. The team will clearly miss Cano, but I think that the contract that he signed with the Seattle Mariners will prove to be a huge overpay, and I think the Yankees did the right thing by not giving into his demands. The Yankees will be fine. They are an older team once again, but the Yankees were struck with several injuries last season, and the offseason additions (Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, Brian Roberts, Kelly Johnson) have increased the organizational depth and made the Yankees a much stronger offensive lineup top to bottom.
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