NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Yankees added another big arm to their bullpen signing All-Star right-handed reliever Rafael Soriano to a three-year deal, the team said on Tuesday.
Soriano, who led the American League in saves last season for the Tampa Bay Rays, is expected to become a setup man in the Bronx and heir apparent for closer Mariano Rivera.
The 31-year-old Dominican's 45 saves were the third most in Major League Baseball behind San Francisco's Brian Wilson (48) and San Diego's Heath Bell (47).
Soriano also posted a 1.73 ERA with 57 strikeouts and a .163 opponents batting average, making him the fourth Major League pitcher to reach those totals for saves, ERA and opponents average in a single season.
Earlier, the Yankees said they agreed to one-year contracts with pitchers Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Boone Logan.
The Yankees did not release financial terms but New York media reported Hughes would make $2.7 million, Chamberlain $1.4 million and Logan $1.2 million.
Hughes, 24, had a breakout year with an 18-8 record in 2010. The right-hander set career highs for victories, innings pitched (176) and strikeouts (146).
The right-handed Chamberlain, 25, posted a 3-4 record with three saves while making a team-high 73 relief appearances.
Logan, a 26-year-old southpaw, was 2-0, appearing 51 times in relief.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto and Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina. Editing by Frank Pingue)
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