Strawberry, Yankees Strike An $850,000 Deal Problem-Plagued Outfielder Eligible To Return To Play Baseball On Sunday
After a trip to the Betty Ford Center, a guilty plea for tax evasion that led to a $350,000 fine, two positive cocaine tests and a 60-day baseball suspension, Darryl Strawberry is returning to New York.
Strawberry, who left the New York Mets after the 1990 season to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, agreed Monday to a oneyear contract with the New York Yankees that will guarantee him at least $850,000.
“I’d like to hang out the welcome mat and say he’s a part of our club and that he can help us in a positive way,” Yankees captain Don Mattingly said in Baltimore before a game.
According to the team, the 33-year-old outfielder will join the Yankees “as soon as he becomes eligible under baseball rules.” He is eligible to play Sunday.
“I personally want to thank (Yankees owner George Steinbrenner) for the faith he has shown in me,” Strawberry said in a statement issued by the club. “The fans in New York are the best in baseball and I will do everything I can to justify Mr. Steinbrenner’s confidence in me and the trust of the fans.”
In November 1990, when he agreed to a $20.25 million, five-year contract with the Dodgers, Strawberry’s view was different.
“I think a lot of the fun was taken away because of the pressure and the situation in New York,” Strawberry said then.
Strawberry has 14 home runs and 54 RBIs his past three seasons in the majors - a total of 104 games. And he’s been bothered by nagging injuries, including a bad back.
“It’s kind of an unknown where he is,” Yankees manager Buck Showalter said. “It’s been a while since he’s played… . From what I’ve heard, he’s in pretty good physical shape. But to get into baseball shape, we’ll see.”
Strawberry is completing a suspension imposed by acting commissioner Bud Selig following the outfielder’s positive cocaine tests on Jan. 17 and 18. On April 24, U.S. District Judge Barrington Parker Jr. ordered Strawberry to repay $350,000 in back taxes and sentenced him to six months of home confinement. But Parker permitted him to leave home for practice and games, and allowed him to travel to road games with a baseball team.
“We feel confident Darryl will do his absolute best for us,” said Steinbrenner, who signed reliever Steve Howe, another player with a history of cocaine use.
“We are supportive of Darryl, and we shall do everything possible to help him meet the challenge ahead,” Steinbrenner said.
Strawberry is under house arrest in Palm Springs, Calif., for tax evasion, but the government has said it would allow him to return to baseball. He has been practicing with an independent team in Palm Springs.
Under the deal with the Yankees, Strawberry is guaranteed $675,000 this season. Because of the strike and the cocaine suspension, his listed salary would be $1,223,000 for him to gross that.
The Yankees have a $1.8 million option for 1996 with a $175,000 buyout. They have until Nov. 1 to exercise the option.