Scott Brosius returned to the New York Yankees on Friday for a $15.75 million, three-year contract and Devon White became the first free agent to switch teams, agreeing to a $12.4 million, three-year deal with Los Angeles.

Brosius, the World Series MVP, was obtained after the 1997 season from Oakland for Kenny Rogers and wanted to remain with New York. He will get $5.25 million in each of the next three seasons, up from $2.75 million this year, when he hit .300 with 19 homers and 98 RBIs.New York didn't announce the deal, but the terms were confirmed by several sources who spoke on the condition they not be identified.

White, a seven-time Gold Glove winner and member of three World Series-winning teams, solved the Dodgers' center field problem. The 35-year-old switch-hitter played in 146 games for the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks this season and hit .279 with 84 runs, 32 doubles, one triple, 22 homers, 85 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.

White, who made $3.5 million in 1998, the final season of a $9.9 million, three-year contract, gets $2.5 million in 1999, $4 million in 2000 and $5 million in 2001. The Dodgers have a $5.5 million in 2002 with a $900,000 buyout.

Like Brosius, Darryl Hamilton decided to stay with his former team, agreeing to a $10.5 million, three-year contract with the Colorado Rockies. Colorado also agreed to a two-year deal with outfielder Lenny Harris, who finished the season with the New York Mets.

Hamilton, acquired from San Francisco on July 31 for Ellis Burks, gets a $1 million signing bonus, $3.2 million in 1999, $3.3 million in 2000 and $3 million in 2001. He hit .308 last season with six homers and 51 RBIs.

Friday was the first day the 135 free agents could talk contract with all major league clubs. Before then, they could discuss money with only their former teams.

Scott Boras, the agent for Bernie Williams and Kevin Brown, told a group of agents meeting in Los Angeles on Thursday that he had several offers for Brown of at least six years in length and would seek a seven-year deal. Brown's former team, the San Diego Padres, is thought to have offered him a four-year contract.