The Day

YANKEES, NEIL WALKER AGREE TO ONE-YEAR, $4M DEAL

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Joining the New York Yankees caused Neil Walker to smile, despite a hefty drop in salary.

The free agent infielder agreed Monday to a $4 million, one-year contract, a 77 percent pay cut in a deal that allows New York prospects Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar more time to mature in the minor leagues.

Walker earned $17.2 million last season, when he accepted a qualifying offer from the New York Mets.

“It’s certainly a crazy offseason but more than anything my hope was that I’d land somewhere that’s going to be competitiv­e and have a chance to win,” Walker said. “I’m happy to be here, happy to be on a contending team.”

Walker likely will start at second base and Brandon Drury, acquired from Arizona last month, will play third. Walker can make $500,000 in performanc­e bonuses: $125,000 each for 425, 450, 475 and 500 plate appearance­s.

“It’s just another choice for manager,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “If he takes something from somebody over time, so be it. But again he’s getting a little bit of a late start given the fact that we’re probably about two weeks away from leaving Florida.”

The 32-year-old hit .265 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs last year for the Mets and Milwaukee.

Among the victims of a historical­ly slow free agent market, Walker had been working out at the camp for free agents in Bradenton, organized by the players’ associatio­n.

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