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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Arizona Lands Benes

Compiled From Wire Services

The expansion Arizona Diamondbacks signed free-agent pitcher Andy Benes, adding an experienced starter to their rotation.

Terms of the contract weren’t disclosed, although the Arizona Republic reported Benes will be paid $18 million over three years.

Benes, a 30-year-old right-hander, posted a 10-7 record with a 3.10 earned run average for the St. Louis Cardinals last season.

Saying he was “burned out,” Bob Watson quit as general manager of the New York Yankees and was replaced by Brian Cashman, his 30-year-old assistant.

Watson, 51, often had been a verbal punching bag for owner George Steinbrenner, who acts as his own GM for big trades and contract negotiations.

Bob Wells, a member of Seattle’s bullpen the past four seasons, agreed to a $450,000, one-year contract.

Second baseman Jeff Frye and the Boston Red Sox, scheduled for the year’s first salary arbitration hearing, instead agreed to a $7 million, three-year contract.