Alex Rodriguez appears to be returning to the New York Yankees as a man without a position.

Chase Headley agreed Monday to a $52 million, four-year contract and said the Yankees assured him the third-base job was his.

"That was a discussion that we had early on," Headley said during a conference call. "I feel like the best position on the field for me is third base. That's where I offer the most to a club. So it was important to me. That was something that was resolved fairly quickly."

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. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said last month that "if I signed or traded for a third baseman, that would be my third baseman."

Rodriguez turns 40 on July 27. New York could shift him to designated hitter, relegate him to a backup role at third base and first or perhaps even seek trade offers.

- Associated Press