Baseball: Yankees reward All-Star Brosius

SCOTT BROSIUS, the World Series' Most Valuable player, has signed a three-year contract with the New York Yankees believed to be worth $15.75m (pounds 9.5m), it was confirmed yesterday.

The third baseman, who made $2.5m in 1998, enjoyed an amazing turnaround with a fairytale finish this past season. After hitting just .203 for Oakland in 1997, Brosius joined the Yankees and batted .300 with 19 homers to earn his first All-Star appearance while playing a key role in New York's magical 114-win season, which was crowned by a clean sweep in the World Series.

"It would certainly be an understatement to say that Scott Brosius was a major contributor to the tremendous accomplishments of the Yankees in 1998," their general manager, Brian Cashman, said. "Scott has developed into the game's premier third baseman, both offensively and defensively, and he means a great deal to this organisation on and off the field. We are delighted that he will be a part of our future."

Brosius, 32, who spent his entire career at Oakland before being traded to New York last November for pitcher Kenny Rogers, was one of five Yankees to file for free agency this offseason. But the third baseman had said all along that he hoped to remain in New York.

The other Yankees who filed were centerfielder Bernie Williams, 20-game winner David Cone and outfielders Darryl Strawberry and Tim Raines.