Sax Goes to White Sox as Yankees Get Perez

The New York Yankees traded second baseman Steve Sax to the Chicago White Sox Friday for right-hander Melido Perez and two minor league pitchers.

The trade allows the Yankees to gain some financial relief after recently signing Danny Tartabull to a five-year, $25.5-million contract and infielder Mike Gallego for $5.1 million over three years.

Sax, who turns 32 this month, was the Yankees’ only .300 hitter last season and has a career batting average of .286 in more than 10 years as a major leaguer. Sax had previously signed a four-year, $12.4-million contract extension with the Yankees that begins this season. He also has received a $1.5-million signing bonus from the Yankees, who will pay $1.6 million of the rest of the contract, leaving the White Sox responsible for $9.3 million over the next four years.

Sax, a five-time all-star, was the 1982 National League rookie of the year for the Dodgers. He was signed by the Yankees as a free agent Nov. 23, 1988.

The Yankees also got right-handers Robert Wickman and Domingo Jean. The trade unites Perez, who will be 26 next month, with his 34-year brother Pascual.

Perez, working out of the bullpen part of last year, was 8-7 with one save and a 3.12 ERA for the White Sox. He is 45-46 over four seasons with a career ERA of 4.26.