A's agree to $1 million deal with Japanese pitcher Yabu
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The Oakland Athletics agreed Wednesday to a $1 million, one-year contract with Keiichi Yabu after the right-hander passed a physical.
The 36-year-old Yabu has played 11 seasons with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan. He went 6-9 with a 3.02 ERA in 19 games last season and had an 84-106 and a 3.57 ERA with the team.
Yabu's deal calls for him to receive a $750,000 salary this year and gives Oakland a $1.5 million option with a $250,000 buyout. He could earn $300,000 in performance bonuses based on points, and also gets plane tickets, a housing allowance and English lessons.
He could compete for a spot in Oakland's starting rotation, though that will be hard. Heading into spring training, Barry Zito, Rich Harden, Joe Blanton and Dan Haren are expected to be starters for the A's, who traded aces Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder last month -- Hudson to the Atlanta Braves and Mulder to the St. Louis Cardinals...the rest...
