NEW YORK -- Third baseman Aaron Boone and the New York Yankees agreed Monday to a $5.75 million, one-year contract.
Boone, acquired from Cincinnati on July 31, was in a slump
during most of his time with the Yankees, hitting .254 with six
homers and 31 RBI.
His 11th-inning homer in Game 7 against Boston won the AL
pennant for the Yankees, joining Bill Mazeroski, Chris Chambliss,
Joe Carter and Todd Pratt as the only players to end a postseason
series with a home run.
But Boone played a role in the Yankees' six-game World Series loss to Florida,
striking out against Braden Looper with one out and the bases
loaded in the 11th inning of Game 4. Florida won 4-3 in 12 innings
to tie the Series at 2-all, then beat the Yankees in the next two
games to take the title.
Boone, 30, is eligible for free agency after the 2004 season. He
hit .273 with 18 homers and 65 RBI with the Reds, and was selected
for his first All-Star appearance.
He made $3.7 million last season.
New York sent left-handers Brandon Claussen and Charlie Manning
to Cincinnati to obtain Boone, acquired partly because third base
prospect Drew Henson has not made much progress at Triple-A
Columbus.
Henson, a former Michigan quarterback, hit .234 with 14 homers,
40 doubles and 78 RBI with the Clippers last season, striking out
122 times and making 28 errors at third base.