Boston ? Two former New York Yankees players who allegedly assaulted a Fenway Park groundskeeper during the 2003 AL championship series agreed Tuesday to a deal that calls for the charges against them to be dropped in six months.

Pitcher Jeff Nelson and outfielder Karim Garcia agreed to pretrial probation at a hearing in Roxbury District Court. The players will perform 50 hours of community service and be evaluated to determine whether they need to attend an anger-management program.

The case was scheduled to go to trial Tuesday, but the players reached a last-minute deal with prosecutors to avoid a trial.

“While sufficient evidence exists to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, the conduct of Nelson and Garcia does not merit criminal convictions,” the district attorney’s office said in a statement.

Nelson, 37, now plays for the Texas Rangers. Garcia, 28, was released in August from the Baltimore Orioles.

After the hearing, Nelson blamed the media.

“We told our story in the beginning, and you guys were the ones that twisted it around, so what can I say?” he said.