Yankees Need Winfield, With Washington Gone

George Steinbrenner may have to reconsider his position on ridding himself of Dave Winfield after Tuesday’s announcement that free-agent outfielder Claudell Washington had bolted from the New York Yankees to accept a 3-year contract with the Angels for $2.625 million.

The Yankees were having difficult negotiations with Washington, but he had expected to re-sign with them until about two weeks ago, when the Angels came in with their offer. “Believe me, I didn’t want to go,� Washington said from his home in Orinda, Calif. “The Yankees more or less forced me out of town. If I had my choice I would have remained a Yankee.�

General Manager Bob Quinn said the Yankees were unwilling to match the length of the Angels’ contract. “We didn’t feel it was appropriate to give a 34-year-old outfielder a three-year contract,� Quinn said. “He had a career year (in 1988). Historically he has played extremely well in (the final year of his contract) and not as well after that. The third year (in the Angels’ offer) surprised us. We were talking about two years and an option.� The Yankees are believed to have offered about $1.8 million over the two years.

Washington hit .308 last season, with 11 home runs and 64 RBI in 455 at-bats. He played in 126 games and stole 15 bases.

Quinn said the Yankees had no plans to go outside the organization for another center fielder. Roberto Kelly is likely to get a shot at playing every day. Kelly, a right-handed hitter, was supposed to have platooned in center field with Washington last season, but a sprained left wrist limited him to 38 games.

Stanley Jefferson, acquired from the San Diego Padres in the Jack Clark trade, will get a look, but he brings a reputation as a light hitter.

It is also possible new Manager Dallas Green will try to persuade Rickey Henderson to move from left field to center. Under Lou Piniella, Henderson balked at playing center.

In any case, with Washington and Clark gone, the Yankees may not be able to afford losing Winfield’s bat.

Washington’s agent, Tom Reich, is a good friend of Steinbrenner’s, and both worked on moving Clark to the Padres. But Quinn had warned that Steinbrenner’s relationship with Reich probably would not help in these negotiations.

Washington expected the Yankees to duplicate the Angels’ offer. “You would think so,� he said. “But they didn’t and I had to do what was best for me and my family.�

Washington, 34, will receive $2.625 million during the life of the contract. He will get a $300,000 signing bonus, $875,000 this year, $575,000 in 1990 and $875,000 in 1991. He can earn an additional $50,000 per year in performance bonuses.

Washington said that even with the Angels’ offer in hand, he had to think twice about leaving the Yankees, who had acquired him from the Atlanta Braves for Ken Griffey in 1986. Washington became one of the more popular players among his Yankees teammates. “It was real tough; I’m going to miss every one of them,� he said. “I wish them all the best. I hope they wish the same for me. We had far more good times than bad times.�

The left-handed-hitting Washington has a lifetime batting average of .280, with 150 home runs, 773 runs batted in and 295 stolen bases.