MLB notes: Aaron Boone will be the next Yankees manager

The New York Yankees have picked ESPN broadcaster Aaron Boone to succeed Joe Girardi as manager, a person familiar with the decision said Friday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday night because the decision had not been announced by the team. The decision was first reported by former New York Daily News columnist Bill Madden.

Now 44, Boone has never been a manager or even a coach at any level since retiring as a player after the 2009 season. His 11th-inning home run off Boston’s Tim Wakefield won Game 7 of the AL Championship Series for the Yankees against Boston.

Boone’s grandfather, Ray, was a two-time All-Star infielder from 1948-60. His father, Bob, was a four-time All-Star catcher from 1972-90, then managed Kansas City from 1995-97 and Cincinnati from 2001-03.

Aaron Boone was a big league third baseman from 1997-2009 and an All-Star in 2003, when New York acquired him from the Reds at the trade deadline.

Etc.

The Chicago Cubs have non-tendered right-hander Hector Rondon, parting with one of the most accomplished closers in franchise history. Rondon is sixth on the team’s career saves list with 77, all from 2014-16. The Cubs also agreed to a one-year deal with left-hander Dario Alvarez. The 28-year-old Dominican was 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA in 20 relief appearances with the Texas Rangers last season, striking out 17 in 16 1/3 innings. …

Free-agent catcher Welington Castillo agreed Friday to a $15-million, two-year contract with the Chicago White Sox, who avoided arbitration with right-hander Danny Farquhar by reaching a $1.05-million, one-year deal. … Utilityman Andrew Romine and the Seattle Mariners have agreed to a one-year contract for the 2018 season, while the club chose not to tender contracts to pitchers Drew Smyly and Shae Simmons. …

The Braves have claimed pitcher Chase Whitley off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays and announced that Andrew Tannish won’t be taking a front office job. … The Pittsburgh Pirates have hired Junior Vizcaino as their director of international scouting. Vizcaino spent last season as global cross-checker for the Boston Red Sox. Vizcaino previously spent 17 years with the Kansas City Royals, including a decade as the team’s national supervisor.