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Left-hander Chris Hammond was traded from the New York Yankees to the Oakland Athletics on Thursday for two minor leaguers, right-hander Edwardo Sierra and infielder J.T. Stotts.

New York also is sending cash to the A's to cover part of Hammond's contract. He has a $2.4 million salary next season, and his deal includes a $3 million team option with a $200,000 buyout.

Hammond, 37, was 3-2 with a 2.86 ERA in 62 relief appearances last season, his first with New York. He fell out of favor in the second half of the season after the Yankees acquired Gabe White and Felix Heredia.

Sierra, 21, was 3-5 with a 2.09 ERA and 17 saves in 51 games last season for Class-A Kane County of the Midwest League, striking out 52 in 60 1-3 innings.

Stotts, 23, hit .284 with two homers and 75 RBIs for Class-A Modesto, then batted .307 with 14 RBIs for Double-A Midland.

The Detroit Tigers on Thursday signed free agent catcher Mike DiFelice to a one-year contract.

DiFelice played for the Kansas City Royals last season, batting .254 with 16 doubles, three home runs and 25 RBI in 62 games. He threw out 30.2 percent of baserunners attempting to steal (16-for-53) this past season and owns a career .989 fielding percentage behind the plate.

"Mike is an established major league backup catcher," Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "He is solid defensively with leadership abilities and occasional pop in his bat. We are glad to have Mike as part of the Tigers organization."

In eight seasons in the majors, the 34-year-old DiFelice has a career .241 average with 79 doubles, 28 home runs and 155 RBI while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks and Royals.

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