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Yankees, O'Neill Finalize Deal

November 16, 2000 / 4:19 PM EST / CBS/AP

Paul O'Neill believes the Yankees have at least another year left in their run and he wants to stay in New York for it.

After contemplating retirement late this season, O'Neill instead will play one final year, signing a $6.5 million contract with the Yankees on Thursday.

"I want to look back when I'm all done and say I played at the beginning of this spurt and played all the way through," O'Neill said. "With the core of people coming back, this is still the team that won the championships. A couple of years down the road, it might not be the same team anymore. We might add a player or two, but the core is the same as in 1996 when we started the run."

O'Neill was one of the first pieces of that core, coming over in a trade from Cincinnati after the 1992 season. He has hit .309 for the Yankees and manager Joe Torre calls him the "heart and soul" of the team that has won four World Series titles in the last five years.

"We're still winning and still together and I want to be part of that next year whether the run is over or continues," he said. "Basically, I feel like I can still contribute."

Despite a hip injury that rendered him ineffective for the final month of the season and much of the postseason, O'Neill finished with a .283 average, 18 homers and 100 RBIs.

He became the fourth Yankees outfielder to record at least four straight 100-RBI seasons, joining Babe Ruth (1926-33), Joe DiMaggio (1936-42) and Dave Winfield (1982-86).

He did not hit a home run after Sept. 6 and did not have an extra-base hit from Sept. 6 until Game 5 of the first-round series against Oakland. Because he will be 38 next season, the Yankees were concerned with his health and durability.

"In September, I was pretty down and out," O'Neill said. "When you get injured and things hinder your performance, it's frustrating. But for the majority of the year, I felt good. I was contributing to the team and we were winning."

But in the postseason, O'Neill hit .310 with seven RBIs in 16 games. He was at his best in the World Series, batting 9-for-19 (.474).

A substantial part of O'Neill's salary will be deferred next season as he plans for his retirement.

"I want to finish as a Yankee," he said. "I made the choice that this will be it."

The Yankees biggest offseason target could be free agent pitcher Mike Mussina. GM Brian Cashman met with Mussina's agent on Wednesday and the Yankees could make an offer within the next few days.

Mussina went 11-15 this season, but his 3.79 ERA was third in the American League. He would join a rotation that already includes Roger Clemens, Orlando Hernandez and Andy Pettitte.

"This system the Yankees have used to help win four World Series has been built around pitching," O'Neill said. "When you add a pitcher like that, it strengthens the teams chances to win again."