MLB

Andruw’s knee no cause for Yankees concern

TAMPA — Andruw Jones said the bloated left knee he checked into Yankees camp with yesterday isn’t a big deal.

“It’s a swollen knee from working out during the offseason,” the outfielder said at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “Running is fine, and I am swinging the bat good.”

The 33-year-old 15-year veteran is being viewed as a backup corner outfielder and could get some DH at-bats against left-handed pitchers.

“He is a fourth outfielder, a corner guy to play against lefties and power off the bench,” manager Joe Girardi said of Jones, who was considered the premier center fielder in baseball when he was with Atlanta.

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Jones, a five-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner, hit .230 with 19 homers and 48 RBIs in 107 games for the White Sox last year. He is a career .256 hitter with 407 homers and 1,222 RBIs.

Jones signed a one-year deal worth $2 million that includes

$1.2 million in performance bonuses.

At 19 and a rookie with the Braves, Jones hit two homers in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series against the Yankees.

“When I was driving here, I was thinking my manager [Girardi] was the catcher [in 1996],” Jones said. “That made me feel really old. I wish we [the Braves] would have won it, but I am happy to be here, it’s a great team.”

Jones, who was in Atlanta from 1996-2007, slugged 51 homers and drove in 128 runs for the Braves in 2005. He played for the Dodgers in 2008, the Ranges in 2009 and the White Sox last year. In the past three seasons he has hit a combined 39 homers.

He is the third player from Curacao to play in the majors and the second Yankee. Hensley Muelens played for the Yankees and Ralph Malliard played for the Marlins.