Yanks sign Marte

via Impacto Deportivo (thanks to MLB Trade Rumors):

The Yankees signed Damaso Marte to a three-year, $12MM deal (link is in Spanish). The Yanks had declined a $6MM option for 2009 earlier.

$4 million a year is a bargain for Marte, who is one of the better left-handed relievers in baseball. Although the deal is unconfirmed, it sounds like the other rumors we've heard about Marte, and Impacto Deportivo did break the Luis Castillo signing last year. Either way, great deal for the Yankees who now have an even stronger bullpen.

Update:Peter Abraham talked so some of his sources and says the deal is all but official. He also mentions how the deal makes sense for the Yankees.

Update 2: The deal is official, here is the press release: The New York Yankees announced today that they have signed left-handed pitcher Damaso Marte to a three-year contract with a one-year club option for 2012.

Joel Sherman says that the 2012 option is for $4 million, with a buyout for $250 thousand.

Again, this is a great deal for the Yanks. At this point, the bullpen is pretty much finished. Mariano Rivera, Brian Bruney, David Robertson, Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez and Alfredo Aceves figure to be major players in the Yankee pen next season.