Kozma, Pestano, Swarzak sign minor league deals with Yanks

Feb 5, 2016 - 7:58 PM NEW YORK (AP) While the New York Yankees have not signed any free agents to major league contracts, they announced 15 minor league deals Friday.

Infielder Pete Kozma and right-handers Vinnie Pestano and Anthony Swarzak were among the players who reached agreements and will report to big league spring training.

Kozma, who turns 28 in April, spent the past five seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and hit a career-low .152 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 99 at-bats last season.

Pestano, who turns 31 on Feb. 20, was 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in 19 relief appearances with the Los Angeles Angels last year. Swarzak, 30, had a 3.38 ERA in 10 relief appearances with Cleveland in 2015, striking out 13 and walking four in 13 1/3 innings.

Also agreeing to deals were right-handers Tyler Cloyd and Diego Moreno; left-hander Richard Bleier; catchers Carlos Corporan, Francisco Diaz, Kyle Higashioka, Eddy Rodriguez and Sebastian Valle; infielders Jonathan Diaz, Deibinson Romero and Donovan Solano; and outfielder Cesar Puello.

Ten players from the organization's minor league system will start spring training with the big league team at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida: right-handers Domingo German, Chad Green, James Kaprielian and Brady Lail; left-hander Tyler Webb; catcher Santiago Nessy; infielders Jorge Mateo and Tyler Wade; and outfielders Dustin Fowler and Aaron Judge

Judge (2013) and Kaprielian (2015) were first-round draft picks.