Jerry_Manuel
12-12-2001, 12:54 PM
BOSTON -- Free agent outfielder Rondell White has agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract with the New York Yankees, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports.
The deal is pending a physical and likely won't be officially announced until next week. The Yankees are expected to announce the signing of Jason Giambi on Thursday and don't want another announcement stealing any of the thunder.
White will replace Chuck Knoblauch as the Yankees' left fielder. He hit .307 with 17 home runs and a career-best .529 slugging percentage in 95 games last season with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs and Seattle Mariners were believed to be the other prime pursuers for the injury-prone outfielder.
Other free agent outfielders who had been rumored to have sparked the Yankees' interest included Moises Alou and Roger Cedeno.
White has played more than 100 games just once in the past four years, although he has hit at least .300 each season. Due to his frequent injuries, White has driven in more than 64 runs just once in his career. He spent time on the disabled list in 2001 with a hamstring injury and missed action in 2000 with hamstring and shoulder problems.
The deal is pending a physical and likely won't be officially announced until next week. The Yankees are expected to announce the signing of Jason Giambi on Thursday and don't want another announcement stealing any of the thunder.
White will replace Chuck Knoblauch as the Yankees' left fielder. He hit .307 with 17 home runs and a career-best .529 slugging percentage in 95 games last season with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs and Seattle Mariners were believed to be the other prime pursuers for the injury-prone outfielder.
Other free agent outfielders who had been rumored to have sparked the Yankees' interest included Moises Alou and Roger Cedeno.
White has played more than 100 games just once in the past four years, although he has hit at least .300 each season. Due to his frequent injuries, White has driven in more than 64 runs just once in his career. He spent time on the disabled list in 2001 with a hamstring injury and missed action in 2000 with hamstring and shoulder problems.