Yankees spend big to get Sabathia

CC Sabathia made his name with the Cleveland Indians

CC Sabathia has agreed to join the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball's biggest-ever deal for a pitcher.

Although some details have yet to be finalised, his seven-year contract is reported to be worth $161m (£107.8m).

Sabathia, 28, who played for Milwaukee last season, can opt out after three seasons and become a free agent again.

The starting pitcher will give the Yankees, who have underachieved of late, a new marquee star as they head into a new $1.3bn stadium next year.

Sabathia's deal top the previous mark for a pitcher, a $137.5m, six-year contract agreed to by Johan Santana and the New York Mets last winter.

His $23m average annual salary is just ahead of Santana's $22.9m.

Among all players, it will trail only Alex Rodriguez's $275m, 10-year contract with the Yankees, Rodriguez's earlier $252m, 10-year agreement with Texas, and Derek Jeter's $189m, 10-year contract with the Yankees.

Rodriguez made his MLB debut with Anaheim in September 2002

Venezuelan relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez has joined the New York Mets on a $37m three-year contract.

Rodriguez saved 62 games for the LA Angels this year, five more than the previous MLB mark set by Bobby Thigpen of the Chicago White Sox in 1990.

Mets GM Omar Minaya said: "One of our primary goals was to secure a top of the line closer to anchor our bullpen.

"By acquiring Frankie Rodriguez, we feel confident that we have one of the best closers in the majors."

The Mets' regular closer, All-Star Billy Wagner, is expected to miss all of next season following elbow ligament replacement surgery.

Rodriguez, 26, a three-time All-Star nicknamed K-Rod, was regarded as the premier closer on the market.

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"Mets fans are very passionate and playing in a new ballpark is going to be great," he said. "I'm going to do everything I can to help bring a championship to Citi Field."

The Mets followed up the signing of Rodriguez by capturing fellow reliever JJ Putz from the Seattle Mariners - with the aim of making him Rodriguez's set-up man.

The Putz trade came as part of a mammoth trade involving 12 players moving between three teams.

It saw the Mets also acquire Seattle outfielder Jeremy Reed and pitcher Sean Green .

Moving to Seattle are Cleveland Indians outfielder Franklin Gutierrez as well as Mets pitcher Aaron Heilman and outfielder Endy Chavez , and four Minor League players.

Cleveland picked up Mets pitcher Joe Smith and Mariners infielder Luis Valbuena .