The New York Yankees reached an agreement with right-handed reliever David Robertson on a one-year deal worth $3.1 million and avoided arbitration with the last remaining arbitration eligible case on their roster. The team also avoided going to arbitration with pitchers Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Boone Logan. Robertson had asked for $3.55 million in salary arbitration and the Yankees offered $2.85 million, and made $1.625 million last season after pitching to a 2.67 ERA with a 2-7 record, in a injury riddled 2012 season.
Robertson was 4-0 with a 1.08 ERA in 70 appearances in his 2011 breakout season. After Mariano Rivera‘s season ending knee surgery last May, Robertson was given the closers job, then suffered a strained left oblique and was placed on the disabled list in mid-May. Rafael Soriano assume the role of closer for the rest of the season. Robertson is expected to return to the role of set up man for Rivera in 2013
With the signing of Robertson the Yankees projected payroll for 2013 will be about $206 million, $197.3 million on the 40 man roster and $8.5 million owed to Pittsburgh as part of last February’s trade that sent pitcher A.J. Burnett to the Pirates.
The Yankees have a well-publicized plan to move payroll to $189 million by the 2014 season.
