NEW YORK — Chase Headley is staying with the Yankees, agreeing to a $52 million, four-year contract that signals New York is not counting on Alex Rodriguez to play third base regularly.
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.
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The agreement with Headley on Monday is a sign New York plans to shift A-Rod to designated hitter, relegate him to a backup role or perhaps even seek trade offers.
The 30-year-old Headley was acquired from San Diego in July. The 2012 NL Gold Glove winner at third, he hit .262 with six homers and 17 RBI in 191 at-bats for the Yankees.
ROYALS: A person with knowledge of the negotiations says outfielder Alex Rios and Kansas City agreed to an $11 million, one-year contract.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to Rios passing a physical.
Rios will take over in right field from Nori Aoki, who became a free agent after helping the Royals win their first AL pennant since 1985.
Rios, who turns 34 in February, had been with Texas since August 2013 and hit .280 this year with four homers and 54 RBI. He set career highs with the Chicago White Sox in 2012 with 25 homers and 91 RBI.
• The Royals signed former Twins right-hander Yohan Pino and designated reliever Casey Coleman for assignment.
The 30-year-old Pino went 2-5 with a 5.07 ERA in 11 starts for Minnesota last season.
NATIONALS: Bryce Harper and Washington came to terms on a $7.5 million, two-year contract, avoiding a grievance hearing, according to a person familiar with the agreement.
Harper gets a $2.5 million salary in 2015, and $5 million in 2016.
Harper, the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year, had been scheduled to have a $1 million salary in 2015, along with the chance to earn up to $500,000 in roster bonuses.
But the Major League Baseball Players Association filed a grievance on his behalf over whether he could void the final season of the $9.9 million, five-year contract he signed when he was drafted.
WHITE SOX: A person with direct knowledge of the deal said Chicago finalized a $42 million, three-year contract with free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera.
Cabrera will make $13 million in 2015, $14 million in 2016 and $15 million in the final season of the contract,
Cabrera, 30, could slot in quite nicely behind Adam Eaton in the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
He hit .301 with 16 homers and 73 RBI with Toronto last season.
ASTROS: Infielder Jed Lowrie and Houston agreed to a $23 million, three-year contract.
Lowrie was acquired by the Astros from Boston for pitcher Mark Melancon in December 2011 in Jeff Luhnow’s first trade as general manager and was Houston’s shortstop in 2012.
He was dealt to Oakland in February 2013 in that trade that brought Chris Carter to the Astros.
A switch-hitter, Lowrie had 35 home runs and 155 RBI over the last three seasons.
BRAVES: Infielder Alberto Callaspo, 31, finalized a one-year contract.
CUBS: A person with direct knowledge of the deal says veteran reliever Jason Motte agreed to a $4.5 million, one-year contract with Chicago.
Motte was one of baseball’s top closers in 2012, when he had 42 saves for St. Louis.
But he had elbow-ligament replacement surgery in May 2013 and missed that whole season. He returned this year and went 1-0 with a 4.68 ERA in 29 games with the Cardinals.
METS: Outfielder John Mayberry Jr. finalized a $1.45 million, one-year contract.
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