NEW YORK — Second baseman Brian Roberts and the New York Yankees have agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement, which includes performance bonuses, was subject to a physical.
An All-Star in 2005 and 2007, the 36-year-old had spent his entire 13-year major-league career with Baltimore. He has not played a full season since 2009 because of injuries.
Roberts could provide an option at second base to replace Robinson Cano, who left the Yankees for a $240 million, 10-year contract with Seattle.
Roberts signed a $48 million, five-year contract before the 2009 season, then hit .283 with 16 homers, 79 RBI and a big league-high 56 doubles.
His injury problems started the following year, when he missed most of spring training with a herniated disk in his back, then strained an abdominal muscle in the fourth game of the season while stealing second base against Toronto on April 9.
Roberts came down with pneumonia and didn’t return until July 23. Then he missed the final six games of the season after sustaining a concussion when he knocked himself on the batting helmet with his bat after striking out in the ninth inning at Tampa Bay that Sept. 27.
Roberts had another concussion while sliding into first base against Boston on May 16, 2011, and didn’t return until June 12 the following year. He appeared in just 17 games bercause of season-ending hip surgery in August, and he had another operation for a sports hernia in December.
His total of 77 games last season was his highest in four years, and he hit .249 with eight homers and 39 RBI.
He strained his right hamstring while stealing second base in Baltimore’s third game of the season on April 4 and was sidelined until June 30.
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