Righthander Brandon McCarthy reached agreement with the Diamondbacks on a $15.5 million, two-year contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press Friday. The deal is pending a physical, especially important for McCarthy, who was hit in the right side of the head by a line drive Sept. 5. He sustained an epidural hemorrhage, brain contusion, and skull fracture, then underwent a two-hour surgery. Last month, McCarthy was cleared to begin working out by renowned concussion expert Dr. Michael Collins at the University of Pittsburgh. McCarthy went 8-6 with a 3.24 ERA in his sixth big league season and second with the A’s . . . Outfielder Brett Gardner and the Yankees agreed to a $2.85 million, one-year contract that avoids salary arbitration. Gardner was limited to 31 at-bats last season because of a right elbow injury.

Average salary reaches record $3.2m