Australian relief pitcher Grant Balfour has agreed a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Major League Baseball club announced on Thursday.
The contract reportedly will bring the former Oakland A's closing relief ace $US12 million ($A13.6 million) and likely put him in the same role with the Rays.
The 36-year-old right-hander from Sydney has a career record of 28-17 with a 3.27 earned-run average and 514 strikeouts over 462 games in 10 North American seasons with Minnesota, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay and Oakland.
Balfour had agreed to a two-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles in December but they baulked over issues with the Aussie's right shoulder.
Balfour missed the entire 2006 season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum.
After MRI exams from two doctors showing no problems with his surgically repaired shoulder, the Rays were willing to make a deal and the Washington Nationals were reportedly in talks with him, but pitching near his Florida home was reportedly a consideration for Balfour.
Balfour made a career-high 38 saves for Oakland last year and went 1-3 with a 2.59 earned-run average in 65 relief appearances. He has 62 saves over the past two seasons and 64 overall in three years with the A's.
In four prior seasons with the Rays from 2007-2010, Balfour was 14-7 with a 3.33 earned-run average and eight saves in 203 relief appearances, most of them as a set-up man rather than a closer.
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