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Bats: Yankees Sign Former Mariners Closer

TAMPA, Fla. — When the Yankees began talks with the agent for the former Seattle Mariners closer David Aardsma over the winter, Mariano Rivera had not made any public declarations about his future. The negotiations to acquire Aardsma were independent of that.

But Aardsma and the Yankees ultimately reached an agreement Wednesday on a one-year deal with an option for a second year, only two days after Rivera hinted that this would be his last season.

“That didn’t change anything,” said Jaime Murphy, the agent for Aardsma. “David wanted to join the Yankees because they showed the most interest from the start. David is still very confident that he can be a closer if he’s needed, but when he agreed to join the Yankees, he obviously wasn’t thinking about closing games for them. They have a great closer.”

Even if Aardsma wasn’t signed to become the closer of the future, the Yankees may still be facing a bullpen reshuffle next year, and Aardsma could help. If Dave Robertson or Rafael Soriano gets the promotion to closer, that would create a void in the seventh or eighth inning.

Aardsma, 30, is certainly capable of closing himself. In 2009 and 2010, he saved a combined 69 games for the Mariners, the fifth most in the American League over that span. He underwent Tommy John surgery on July 22 and did not pitch at all last season. The Yankees signed him to a one-year, $500,000 contract plus incentives, with a team option for 2013.

He was placed on the disabled list as he rehabilitates from the surgery and could pitch later in the season. But Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said the real target date for Aardsma to contribute is 2013.

“We think it’s kind of along the lines of what we did with Jon Lieber, someone with a lot of ability that will be available to us in the long run,” Cashman said. “Maybe it’s more like 2013, with an outside chance in 2012.”

The Yankees signed Lieber before the 2003 season knowing he would not be able to pitch that season after coming off surgery, but he went 14-8 for them in 2004.

“It’s an R&D move,” Cashman said, “research and development that we feel might have a nice payoff. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

To make room on the 40-man roster the Yankees placed Pedro Feliciano, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, on the 60-day disabled list.