Mussina a happy Yankee

"My first choice was to stay with the Yankees, so it wasn't my first choice to be looking around elsewhere," Mussina told MLB.com. "I'm glad that (general manager Brian Cashman) and everybody else wanted me to stay and keep playing for the team."

The 37-year-old righthander was 15-7 with 3.51 ERA last season and has been a cornerstone of the Yankees starting rotation since signing on as free agent in 2001.

In six seasons in New York, Mussina has averaged more than 31 starts, 200 innings and 15 wins per season compiling a record of 92-53.

"I know Mike Mussina, my manager knows Mike Mussina, our coaching staff knows Mike Mussina," said Cashman. "We know how he prepares, we know the commitment that he provides to put himself in a position to be successful and he has been successful for quite some time.

"He's consistent. I can't stress that enough."

The Baltimore Orioles made a move to bolster their shaky bullpen by signing free agent righthander Danys Baez to a three-year contract worth a reported $19 million.

Baez split last season between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves going 5-6 with nine saves and a 4.53 ERA but missed the latter part of the season after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.

In six Major League seasons, Baez has a 31-37 record with 111 saves in 341 games.

He earned All-Star honours in 2005 when he saved 41 games for Tampa Bay Devil Rays.