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Oakland, Calif. • Free-agent lefty reliever Eric O'Flaherty has agreed to a $7 million, two-year contract with the Oakland Athletics.
The team announced the deal Wednesday. O'Flaherty, who turns 29 next month, sustained a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow last season with Atlanta. He went 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA in 19 appearances before his season ended May 17 and he had elbow ligament-replacement surgery.
He could provide depth in a talented bullpen featuring newcomers Jim Johnson and Luke Gregerson, and Ryan Cook, Sean Doolittle and Dan Otero.
Over the past three years, O'Flaherty's 1.45 ERA in 161 appearances is the lowest among relievers with 125 or more innings.
To clear room on the 40-man roster for O'Flaherty, the two-time defending AL West champion A's designated outfielder Corey Brown for assignment.