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NEW YORK -- Looking to add some thump to their lineup against left-handed pitching, the Yankees have added slugger Richie Sexson for the remainder of the season, according to multiple reports.
Sexson was released by the Seattle Mariners on July 10 and cleared waivers, making him a free agent. The Yankees have not officially confirmed the deal.
A first baseman by trade, Sexson would help complement Jason Giambi in the Yankees' infield, with the right-handed-batting Sexson playing against left-handed starting pitching. He batted .344 with five home runs in 61 at-bats against lefties for Seattle before his release.
Overall. the 33-year-old Sexson was batting .218 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs in 74 games for the Mariners, posting a .315 on-base percentage. He could be in the lineup when the Yankees meet the Oakland A's and probable starter Greg Smith, a left-hander.
A two-time American League All-Star (2002 and '03), the 6-foot-8 Sexson has a career batting average of .261 with 305 home runs and 937 RBIs over 12 Major League seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Mariners, with whom he signed a four-year, $50 million contract before the 2005 season.
The Mariners will pick up most of the $14 million Sexson is due this year. The Yankees would pay only the pro-rated minimum Major League salary.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman had admitted the club's interest in Sexson recently, with the franchise in need of an additional power bat due to Hideki Matsui's lingering injury troubles. At the same time, Cashman downplayed any potential interest New York would have in signing Barry Bonds, also a free agent.
Matsui is feared lost for the season after experiencing increased left knee inflammation. Matsui has had the problematic knee drained twice already and cut short a rehabilitation assignment in Tampa, Fla., scheduled to be examined by Yankees team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon on Friday in New York.
Matsui had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee after the 2007 season and Cashman said recently that he was "not optimistic" that Matsui would be able to avoid a similar fate this year. If Matsui were to have the procedure now, it would cost him the remainder of the campaign.
The Yankees are also without Johnny Damon, who went on the 15-day disabled list after bruising his left shoulder in a July 4 game at Yankee Stadium and experienced a mild setback that puts his target date of rejoining the club at late next week.
Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Sexson was released by the Seattle Mariners on July 10 and cleared waivers, making him a free agent. The Yankees have not officially confirmed the deal.
A first baseman by trade, Sexson would help complement Jason Giambi in the Yankees' infield, with the right-handed-batting Sexson playing against left-handed starting pitching. He batted .344 with five home runs in 61 at-bats against lefties for Seattle before his release.
Overall. the 33-year-old Sexson was batting .218 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs in 74 games for the Mariners, posting a .315 on-base percentage. He could be in the lineup when the Yankees meet the Oakland A's and probable starter Greg Smith, a left-hander.
A two-time American League All-Star (2002 and '03), the 6-foot-8 Sexson has a career batting average of .261 with 305 home runs and 937 RBIs over 12 Major League seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Mariners, with whom he signed a four-year, $50 million contract before the 2005 season.
The Mariners will pick up most of the $14 million Sexson is due this year. The Yankees would pay only the pro-rated minimum Major League salary.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman had admitted the club's interest in Sexson recently, with the franchise in need of an additional power bat due to Hideki Matsui's lingering injury troubles. At the same time, Cashman downplayed any potential interest New York would have in signing Barry Bonds, also a free agent.
Matsui is feared lost for the season after experiencing increased left knee inflammation. Matsui has had the problematic knee drained twice already and cut short a rehabilitation assignment in Tampa, Fla., scheduled to be examined by Yankees team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon on Friday in New York.
Matsui had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee after the 2007 season and Cashman said recently that he was "not optimistic" that Matsui would be able to avoid a similar fate this year. If Matsui were to have the procedure now, it would cost him the remainder of the campaign.
The Yankees are also without Johnny Damon, who went on the 15-day disabled list after bruising his left shoulder in a July 4 game at Yankee Stadium and experienced a mild setback that puts his target date of rejoining the club at late next week.
Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
