Yankees finalize 1-year, $2M deal with 2B Brian Roberts

The deal for Brian Roberts raises the Yankees luxury-tax payroll to approximately $165 million. The team hopes to remain under the $189 million threshold for next season. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The Yankees finalized a deal on Tuesday with former Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts to bring the two-time All-Star to New York on a one-year contract worth $2 million, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The deal was agreed upon in principle on Dec. 17 and finalized on Tuesday morning. The roster addition comes three days after a spot opened up in the wake of Alex Rodriguez being suspended for all of next season including the postseason for violations of baseball's drug agreement and labor contract.  The Yankees' luxury-tax payroll is now approximately $165 million, including benefits, with the deal announced Tuesday for Roberts; it's unclear how A-Rod's suspension will affect the team's payroll looking ahead.

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Roberts could potentially fill the void left behind by former Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, who left New York this offseason for a more lucrative, 10-year, $240 million deal with the Seattle Mariners.

Plagued by injuries for the past four years, the 36-year-old Roberts hit .249 with eight home runs and 39 RBIs in 77 games last season. He has spent his entire 13-year career with the Orioles.

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