Yankees sign RHP Freddy Garcia

The New York Yankees today announced they have signed right-handed pitcher Freddy Garcia to a one-year contract.

Garcia, 35, went 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA (146.2IP, 59ER) in 26 appearances (25 starts) in his first season with the Yankees in 2011.  In matching his win total from 2010 with the Chicago White Sox, he recorded his first back-to-back 12-win seasons since a six-season stretch from 2001-06 (18, 16, 12, 13, 14 and 17 wins, respectively).  His 3.62 ERA was the second-lowest single-season mark of his career, trailing only his 3.05 ERA with Seattle in 2001.

Originally signed by Houston as a non-drafted free agent in 1993, Garcia owns a 145-95 career record with a 4.09 ERA (2,076.1IP, 944ER) in 329 games (327 starts) over parts of 13 seasons with Seattle (1999-2004), Chicago-AL (2004-06 and ’09-10), Philadelphia (2007), Detroit (2008) and the Yankees (2011).

The two-time American League All-Star (2001-02) has won at least 12 games in a season nine times (1999, 2001-06 and ’10-11), tying Derek Lowe and Roy Halladay for the fourth-most among active pitchers, trailing only teammate CC Sabathia, Mark Buehrle and Tim Hudson who each have 10 such seasons.  Since 2001, he owns the third-most wins (118) in the American League among active right-handed pitchers, trailing Halladay (135) and John Lackey (128).

A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Garcia leads all Venezuelan-born pitchers in wins (145) and innings pitched (2,076.1) and ranks third in strikeouts (1,486).  In 2006, he pitched for Venezuela in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, going 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA (7.1IP, 1ER) and 11 strikeouts in two starts.

In order to make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated outfielder Colin Curtis for assignment.