Major League Baseball

Source: Yanks agree to deal with Jones

Published Jan. 19, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

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Ken Rosenthal

The Yankees, fortifying their bench with a five-time All-Star, reached agreement Wednesday with free-agent outfielder Andruw Jones on a one- year, $2 million contract, according to a major-league source.

Jones, who turns 34 on April 23, will serve as a right-handed reserve, filling the role previously held by Marcus Thames, who earlier this week signed with the Dodgers.

The Yankees also considered signing free agent Johnny Damon, but Damon is a left-handed hitter with less power — and a far inferior defender to Jones, who was a 10-time Gold Glove winner in center field for the Braves.

Jones played all three outfield positions for the White Sox last season and was highly productive in a limited role, batting .230/.341/.486 with 19 home runs and 48 RBIs in just 328 plate appearances.

The Yankees expect to give Jones more playing time than they would have given Damon. Two of their three starting outfielders, left fielder Brett Gardner and center fielder Curtis Granderson, are left-handed. The other, right fielder Nick Swisher, is a switch-hitter.

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