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07-31-2004, 09:50 PM
07/31/2004 7:29 PM ET
Yankees to sign Olerud
Sixteen-year veteran will provide depth at first base
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- With Jason Giambi sidelined with a benign tumor, the Yankees have decided to bring John Olerud into the fold to help share duties at first base.
Olerud was designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners on July 15 and released on July 23, thrusting the 16-year veteran on to the free-agent market.
General manager Brian Cashman said Saturday that he planned to sign Olerud to a contract, but that he was preoccupied with completing a deadline-day trade for Chicago's Esteban Loaiza, and therefore not able to get the Olerud deal done as of Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
"I have all intentions of following through with having him join the organization," Cashman said. "He has a willingness and so do we."
John Olerud / 1B
Born: 08/05/68
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 225 lbs
Bats: L / Throws: L
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Team Site
Giambi was diagnosed with the tumor on Friday night and placed on the disabled list, though he is expected to return to the field this season. With Giambi out, the Yankees have been starting Tony Clark at first, while Miguel Cairo has been the backup first baseman.
Olerud, 35, appeared in 77 games with the Mariners this season, hitting .245 with five home runs and 22 RBIs. In parts of 16 seasons with Seattle, Toronto and the New York Mets, Olerud has hit .295 with 244 homers and 1,167 RBIs.
Olerud, a former AL batting champion, two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, was released by Seattle to make room for younger players, as the Mariners are struggling through a last-place season.
Yankees manager Joe Torre spoke with Olerud on Saturday, informing him that his team wanted to bring him aboard while assuring him that his role would be one of importance. Even when Giambi returns, the Yankees could keep three first basemen, as they were prepared to do earlier in the year before Travis Lee suffered a shoulder injury.
"We don't know the date with Jason, and there's a chance when he comes back that he'll have to DH for a time," Torre said. "I told John that we started the year with three first basemen, so it's not impossible."
That said, Torre didn't make any promises regarding playing time, as he prefers to see what kind of shape Olerud is in with his own eyes.
"John is a guy who has experience and has played in New York," Torre said. "He has been a regular, so we'll look at him and see where he is."
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
Always liked Olerud He had 3 great yr's when he was with the Mets
Yankees to sign Olerud
Sixteen-year veteran will provide depth at first base
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- With Jason Giambi sidelined with a benign tumor, the Yankees have decided to bring John Olerud into the fold to help share duties at first base.
Olerud was designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners on July 15 and released on July 23, thrusting the 16-year veteran on to the free-agent market.
General manager Brian Cashman said Saturday that he planned to sign Olerud to a contract, but that he was preoccupied with completing a deadline-day trade for Chicago's Esteban Loaiza, and therefore not able to get the Olerud deal done as of Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
"I have all intentions of following through with having him join the organization," Cashman said. "He has a willingness and so do we."
John Olerud / 1B
Born: 08/05/68
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 225 lbs
Bats: L / Throws: L
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Team Site
Giambi was diagnosed with the tumor on Friday night and placed on the disabled list, though he is expected to return to the field this season. With Giambi out, the Yankees have been starting Tony Clark at first, while Miguel Cairo has been the backup first baseman.
Olerud, 35, appeared in 77 games with the Mariners this season, hitting .245 with five home runs and 22 RBIs. In parts of 16 seasons with Seattle, Toronto and the New York Mets, Olerud has hit .295 with 244 homers and 1,167 RBIs.
Olerud, a former AL batting champion, two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, was released by Seattle to make room for younger players, as the Mariners are struggling through a last-place season.
Yankees manager Joe Torre spoke with Olerud on Saturday, informing him that his team wanted to bring him aboard while assuring him that his role would be one of importance. Even when Giambi returns, the Yankees could keep three first basemen, as they were prepared to do earlier in the year before Travis Lee suffered a shoulder injury.
"We don't know the date with Jason, and there's a chance when he comes back that he'll have to DH for a time," Torre said. "I told John that we started the year with three first basemen, so it's not impossible."
That said, Torre didn't make any promises regarding playing time, as he prefers to see what kind of shape Olerud is in with his own eyes.
"John is a guy who has experience and has played in New York," Torre said. "He has been a regular, so we'll look at him and see where he is."
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
Always liked Olerud He had 3 great yr's when he was with the Mets