The Tampa Bay Rays and free agent closer Grant Balfour reached an agreement on a two-year, $12 million deal, multiple media outlets reported Thursday.
After a three-year hiatus in Oakland, the All-Star closer is headed back to Tampa Bay. The deal is pending a physical.
Balfour had previously pitched for the Rays from 2007-10 and posted his best season in 2008 when he had a 1.54 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings.
Balfour, 36, saved 38 games in 41 chances with a 2.59 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings last season for the Athletics.
Balfour’s deal comes a month after a proposed two-year, $15 million agreement between Balfour and Baltimore fell through after the Orioles objected to the results of Balfour’s physical exam.
Balfour is 28-17 with 72 saves over 10 seasons with the Minnesota Twins, Rays, Milwaukee Brewers and A’s.