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Heyman: Yankees Replace Logan In Bullpen With Left-Hander Thornton

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Yankees needed a dependable left-handed set-up man and now they have one.

According to CBSSports.com and WFAN baseball insider Jon Heyman, the Bombers agreed to a two-year, $7 million deal with Matt Thornton on Tuesday.

Thornton, 37, split 2013 with the White Sox and Red Sox, but was not on any of Boston's playoff rosters on its way to its World Series championship. The Red Sox traded for Thornton in July and envisioned him as the lefty set-up man for closer Koji Uehara, but an oblique injury derailed his chances. The Red Sox then chose not to pick up his $6 million option for 2014.

Thornton, who is averaging a strikeout per inning during his 10-year career, finished the season a combined 0-4 with a 3.74 ERA in 43 1-3 innings.

What the Yankees hope they are getting is one of the best lefty relievers in the game. Since 2006, Thornton has posted a 3.29 ERA in 406 innings.

The move came on the heels of Boone Logan leaving the Bronx for a hefty three-year, $16.5 million contract with the Colorado Rockies.

The Yankees have not made an announcement who their closer will be now that legendary Mariano Rivera has retired, but former set-up man David Robertson seems like the logical choice. The Yankees will likely add a few more arms to the bullpen before the offseason is over.

Earlier Tuesday, the Yankees agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with veteran infielder Brian Roberts.

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