Andruw Jones will return to the New York Yankees in 2012.
The power-hitting outfielder agreed to terms on a one-year contract on Friday, pending the outcome of a physical. According to a baseball source who spoke to ESPNNewYork.com, Jones will be paid a base salary of $2 million with incentives that could earn him another $1.4 million.
"Andruw had offers of a higher base salary from some other clubs," said the source. "But he took less money to return to the Yankees. He had a good experience there last season and wanted to come back."
In addition to his base salary, Jones can earn $45,000 each for 100 and 125 plate appearances, $70,000 apiece for 150, 175, 200 and 225, $170,000 each for 250 and 275, $220,000 apiece for 300 and 325 and $300,000 for 350.
Jones, 34, earned $2 million from the Yankees in 2011, in which he batted .247 with 13 home runs and 33 RBIs in 77 games as a fill-in outfielder and occasional designated hitter against left-handed pitching. The Yankees wanted to bring him back because of his effectiveness against lefties -- he batted .286 with eight HRs and 25 RBIs in 126 at-bats against left-handers -- but with rookie Jesus Montero expected to get most of the right-handed DH at-bats, Jones could see more playing time in the outfield in 2012.
Jones, a 10-time Gold Glove centerfielder for the Atlanta Braves, did not play a game in center for the Yankees in 2011. He started 34 games in left and 14 in right, spelling Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher, and curiously enough, finished only 15 games all year, often being removed for a defensive replacement.
Jones, a career .256 hitter, has 420 career home runs in 16 major league seasons. The Yankees are the fourth team he has played for in the five seasons since he left the Braves as a free agent after the 2007 season.
Wallace Matthews covers the Yankees for ESPNNewYork.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.