Yankees sign third-baseman Chase Headley; Alex Rodriguez a man without a position

Alex Rodriguez appears to be returning to the New York Yankees as a man without a position.

Chase Headley agreed Monday to a $52 million, four-year contract and said the Yankees assured him the third-base job was his.

“That was a discussion that we had early on,” Headley said during a conference call. “That was something that was resolved fairly quickly.”

Coming off a season-long suspension for violations of baseball’s drug agreement and labor contract, Rodriguez is owed $61 million over the final three seasons of his $275 million, 10-year deal.

Nationals, Harper make deal, avoid grievance

Outfielder Bryce Harper and the Nationals came to terms on a $7.5 million, two-year contract, avoiding a grievance hearing this week.

White Sox, Cabrera finalize 3-year deal

The White Sox finalized a $42 million, three-year contract with free agent Melky Cabrera. The left fielder hit .301 with 16 homers and 73 RBIs in 139 games with Toronto last season.

Other signings

Outfielder Alex Rios and the Royals agreed to an $11 million, one-year contract. Rios, 33, had been with Texas since August 2013. … Infielder Jed Lowrie and the Astros have agreed to a $23 million, three-year contract. A switch-hitter, Lowrie had 35 home runs and 155 RBIs over the last three seasons. … Veteran reliever Jason Motte has agreed to a $4.5 million, one-year contract with the Cubs. He went 1-0 with a 4.68 ERA in 29 games in 2014 with the Cardinals.

Clearing the bases

Francisco Liriano gets a $2 million signing bonus as part of his $39 million, three-year contract with the Pirates, which was completed Friday. … The Brewers will honor outgoing baseball Commissioner Bud Selig with an interactive exhibit at Miller Park. The “Selig Experience” is to include a 3-D multimedia presentation and a replica of Selig’s paper-cluttered County Stadium office.