ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Tony Womack, a three-time National League stolen base champion who will take over as the everyday shortstop for the Arizona Diamondacks, today agreed to a four-year, $17 million contract.

Womack, who made $1.65 million last season, was eligible for arbitration but would not have become a free agent until after the 2002 season.

The contract continues the generosity of the NL West champion Diamondbacks, who were ninth in the majors last season with a payroll of $70 million.

Acquired February 26 in a trade that sent two minor leaguers to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Womack hit .277 in 144 games and stole a career-best 72 bases, leading the league in thefts for a third straight year.

"He makes us a better club," Arizona manager Buck Showalter said. "We feel he can play shortstop for us and we won 100 games last year with him as part of the mix."

The 30-year-old Womack played second base for the Pirates for two years and spent the majority of the 1999 season in right field. He saw action in 19 games at shortstop, his original position when he signed with Pittsburgh in 1991.

"He's not a guy that tries to pad his totals," Arizona general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "He's all about team goals."

Womack struggled in the outfield during the postseason, dropping a key fly ball in Game Four of a Division Series loss to the New York Mets.

With Womack at shortstop, the Diamondbacks have opened an outfield spot for Travis Lee, who was displaced due to the emergence of rookie Erubiel Durazo at first base.