NEW YORK, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Catcher John Flaherty, the only member of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to file for free agency, has signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.
Flaherty, 35, had been with the Devil Rays since their first season in 1998. He batted .260 with four home runs and 33 RBI in 76 games last season.
Flaherty, a New York native, has a .255 average with 68 homers and 354 RBI in 913 career games. He received an invitation to spring training, and is expected to compete with Chris Widger as a backup to All-Star backstop Jorge Posada.
