Va Beach VH Fan
02-02-2004, 09:51 PM
NFL-bound Henson will lose $12M in Yankees money
Feb. 2, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
NEW YORK -- Drew Henson has agreed to leave the New York Yankees to pursue a career in the NFL.
Henson's agent, Casey Close, told the Yankees the third baseman is quitting after three mediocre seasons in the minor leagues, a baseball official said Monday on the condition he not be identified.
Henson will forfeit the $12 million he is owed from the contract he agreed to with the Yankees in 2001, the official said.
The NFL's Houston Texans, who hold the quarterback's rights, announced Monday that Henson would work out with the team on Feb. 12 in a showcase for the other 31 NFL franchises.
The Texans drafted Henson with a sixth-round pick last April and already have a young, developing quarterback in David Carr.
"It's going to be open to every team in the NFL," Texans general manager Charley Casserly said. "Then, after that, we will find out what teams are interested and negotiate a trade."
Casserly said a trade could be made no earlier than March 4 and no later than April 24, when the NFL Draft starts.
Henson and the Yankees must still reach a termination agreement, the baseball official said. Henson would then be put on waivers, a process similar to the one in which Seattle removed reliever Kasuhiro Sasaki from the Mariners' roster last week, allowing him to return to the Japanese major leagues.
"It's quite possible Drew Henson will pursue a career in the NFL, and if that is the case, and after we work through all the issues, only then will we have something to announce from our end," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.
New York originally drafted the University of Michigan quarterback in 1998, then traded him to Cincinnati two years later. In March 2001, the Yankees reacquired Henson from the Reds for outfielders Michael Coleman and Wily Mo Pena, and Henson agreed not to return to Michigan for what would have been his senior season.
At the time the Yankees got him back, manager Joe Torre called Henson "a potential superstar."
But even after Aaron Boone's knee injury earlier this month, New York did not consider Henson to be a potential replacement.
Henson, who turns 24 later this month, hit .234 with 14 homers, 40 doubles and 78 RBI for Triple-A Columbus last season, striking out 122 times and making 28 errors at third base. He went 1-for-8 during a September callup with New York.
Henson's $17 million, six-year deal with the Yankees called for a $1 million signing bonus, salaries of $1 million in each of the first two seasons and $2 million in 2003.
He is scheduled to make $2.2 million in 2004, $3.8 million in 2005 and $6 million in 2006.
Close did not return telephone calls seeking comment.
Feb. 2, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
NEW YORK -- Drew Henson has agreed to leave the New York Yankees to pursue a career in the NFL.
Henson's agent, Casey Close, told the Yankees the third baseman is quitting after three mediocre seasons in the minor leagues, a baseball official said Monday on the condition he not be identified.
Henson will forfeit the $12 million he is owed from the contract he agreed to with the Yankees in 2001, the official said.
The NFL's Houston Texans, who hold the quarterback's rights, announced Monday that Henson would work out with the team on Feb. 12 in a showcase for the other 31 NFL franchises.
The Texans drafted Henson with a sixth-round pick last April and already have a young, developing quarterback in David Carr.
"It's going to be open to every team in the NFL," Texans general manager Charley Casserly said. "Then, after that, we will find out what teams are interested and negotiate a trade."
Casserly said a trade could be made no earlier than March 4 and no later than April 24, when the NFL Draft starts.
Henson and the Yankees must still reach a termination agreement, the baseball official said. Henson would then be put on waivers, a process similar to the one in which Seattle removed reliever Kasuhiro Sasaki from the Mariners' roster last week, allowing him to return to the Japanese major leagues.
"It's quite possible Drew Henson will pursue a career in the NFL, and if that is the case, and after we work through all the issues, only then will we have something to announce from our end," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.
New York originally drafted the University of Michigan quarterback in 1998, then traded him to Cincinnati two years later. In March 2001, the Yankees reacquired Henson from the Reds for outfielders Michael Coleman and Wily Mo Pena, and Henson agreed not to return to Michigan for what would have been his senior season.
At the time the Yankees got him back, manager Joe Torre called Henson "a potential superstar."
But even after Aaron Boone's knee injury earlier this month, New York did not consider Henson to be a potential replacement.
Henson, who turns 24 later this month, hit .234 with 14 homers, 40 doubles and 78 RBI for Triple-A Columbus last season, striking out 122 times and making 28 errors at third base. He went 1-for-8 during a September callup with New York.
Henson's $17 million, six-year deal with the Yankees called for a $1 million signing bonus, salaries of $1 million in each of the first two seasons and $2 million in 2003.
He is scheduled to make $2.2 million in 2004, $3.8 million in 2005 and $6 million in 2006.
Close did not return telephone calls seeking comment.