NEW YORK, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The pitching-rich New York Yankees have signed veteran righthander Juan Acevedo to a minor league contract that contains an invitation to spring training.
Acevedo, 32, was 1-5 with a 2.65 ERA and 28 saves in 65 appearances with Detroit last season. He allowed just 68 hits and four home runs in 74 2/3 innings, and held opponents to a .246 batting average.
The versatile seven-year veteran could close, set up, or serve as long man, depending upon how the Yankees' bullpen shakes out. Star reliever Mariano Rivera and setup man Steve Karsay had arm woes in 2002 and may not be 100 percent at the start of the season.
Already this offseason, New York has added lefty Chris Hammond and Jose Contreras, Antonio Osuna, and Jon Lieber.
Acevedo, who also has spent time with Colorado, the New York Mets, St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Florida, has a career record of 27-35 with a 4.16 ERA and 47 saves in 327 games. Thirty-four of those appearances have been starts.
