Sierra Joins Blue Jay Organization

The Toronto Blue Jays signed Ruben Sierra to a minor league contract and assigned him to Syracuse of the International League. Sierra was released by the Cincinnati Reds on Friday after hitting .244 with two homers and seven RBIs in 25 games.

The New York Yankees sent Sierra to Detroit last season as part of the Cecil Fielder deal. Detroit is paying $4,875,000 of his $5.5 million salary. Cincinnati had been obligated to pay Sierra $625,000, but Toronto will now pay $116,022 of that.

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The Yankees got their final reward for defeating the Atlanta Braves in the World Series last October when they were presented with their championship rings before Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Royals at New York.

The Balfour-designed ring--50% larger than any of the club’s previous championship rings--features 23 diamonds representing each of the Yankees’ 23 World Series titles in the form of the club’s interlocking NY logo. The words “World Champions” encircle the logo and in the center of the ring is a half-carat diamond.