Dominican pitcher Luis Severino has agreed on a four-year Major League Baseball contract extension with the New York Yankees worth $40 million, avoiding a salary arbitration, according to multiple reports Friday.

While the team had not confirmed a deal for the 24-year-old right-hander, the MLB website, ESPN and New York Post had announced the agreement, which was complete pending a Friday physical.

Severino was a bargain last year when he went 19-8 with a 3.39 earned-run average in 32 starts for the Yankees, who paid him just under $605,000.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone says he expects Severino, who turns 25 on Wednesday, will be the pitcher for the club’s March 28 season opener against the Baltimore Orioles and can’t wait to see him at the club’s pre-season training base in Tampa, Florida.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

“He’s a great pitcher and I hope he’s here for a long time,” Boone said. “I’m excited to get him back in camp, hopefully tomorrow.”

Two-time All-Star Severino tossed last year’s season opener for the Yankees at Toronto and began the campaign 14-2 with a 2.12 ERA before cooling late in the season, a fade Severino said he will avoid this year thanks to an altered diet and workout regimen that includes less lifting weights and more running and stretching. ( Agence France-Presse )

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