Yankees Trade Rumors

"As the season approaches the quarter pole, more moves will be made. There's too much money to be made in baseball for owners to sit idly by as their teams fall further behind in the standings...Teams are also more willing to dump expensive players in the interest of moving forward with prospects. It happened with Pittsburgh starter Matt Morris. So who's on the hot seat now? Here's a look:"

"David Wells may want to pitch for the Yankees, but at this point, the Bombers don't appear to have much interest in bringing the aging lefthander back to the Bronx. Wells, who turns 45 on May 20, is hoping to pitch a shortened season, and a return to New York would clearly be his first preference. Gregg Clifton, Wells' agent, hasn't been in touch with the Yankees yet, but he has heard through different channels that Hank Steinbrenner may be interested in a pinstriped return for Wells. "

"For his 45th birthday in 11 days, David Wells wants something pinstriped. The free-agent left-hander told The Post yesterday he has been working out near his home in San Diego and believes he could bolster a Yankees New York Yankees ' rotation suddenly besieged by question marks. Could Boomer III be in the cards? Consider that Wells has a huge fan monitoring the situation from Tampa. "

"Cashman is in the final year of his contract and missing the playoffs could surely result in a change of GMs. That would make Cashman a free agent. And that would put him in play in Philadelphia, where there will be a job opening when Pat Gillick retires in the fall. Cashman was between contracts when Gillick got the job in the fall of 2005. The Yankees GM was thinking about where he might end up if he was not renewed, and the Phillies job appealed to him. He admitted that in this space in 2005."

"But how would the vocal Guillen fare if he worked under New York Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner, who recently suggested that young pitcher Joba Chamberlain would be better served in the starting rotation instead of the bullpen?"

"Frank Thomas was released on Sunday by the Blue Jays, but the Yankees won't be a player for the future Hall of Famer, who ranks 18th on the all-time home run list with 516."

"Amidst all the furor caused by the insinuation from Dr. Craig Morgan that Curt Schilling is so upset with the Red Sox that he would be open to playing for the Yankees, there was news to be found. After going on WEEI-AM yesterday morning to state that Morgan might have “misremembered,” what Schilling said, the veteran right-hander also clarified his status with the team."

"When Curt Schilling got up yesterday in Cleveland, he was surprised to hear of the brouhaha involving him back in Boston. He said he had no idea that his doctor, Craig Morgan, had gone on WEEI radio and said that Schilling might be interested in pitching for the Yankees next season."

"The odds are that C.C. Sabathia, for example, will be gone on the wings of free agency next winter, thanks to the deep pockets of the New York Yankees. The contracts of Casey Blake, Jason Michaels, Paul Byrd and Joe Borowski, integral parts of the team and older than 30, expire at the end of the season."

"Unfortunately for Major League Baseball fans, unless Nippon Ham deems Darvish more valuable by posting him to teams in the United States (as the Seibu Lions did with Matsuzaka), the phenom won’t be eligible to play for a big league team for years. But with rumors floating around that the Yankees would be willing to dwarf the Red Sox’ posting price of $51 million for Matsuzaka, that timetable could quicken."

"C. C. Sabathia started for the Cleveland Indians at Legends Field on Sunday, and it is only logical to guess that his next start here could be for the Yankees."

"Some Yankee fans view Indians' ace C.C. Sabathia, last year's AL Cy Young award winner, as the perfect target for the team when the lefty becomes a free agent next year."

"Sabathia can be a free agent after this season. As last year's AL Cy Young Award winner, he could be the biggest fish in the free-agent pond. The Yankees, as circumstance has it, do not go after minnows when they dive into that pond."

"This was Sabathia's first exposure of the spring to the New York media, who naturally wanted to know whether he had his bags packed in anticipation of signing with the Yankees after the season."

"That if the Cubs do complete their deal for Brian Roberts, it would take them out of the running for Coco Crisp. They're telling teams they can't add both players to their payroll... Teams looking for a left-handed reliever (Yankees, maybe?) will find that the Giants are looking to move veteran Steve Kline, who's set to make only $1.75 million this year."

"What if he's not given an extension and this year is a make-or-break year and the Yankees don't win it all? Is it get-rid-of-Cashman time?"

"Hank Steinbrenner, the Yankees’ senior vice president, said Monday that he was open to discussing a contract extension for General Manager Brian Cashman."

" Hank Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman are gambling with pinstriped dice. Asked yesterday about his GM's future in The Bronx, Steinbrenner spoke glowingly of Cashman but admitted he hasn't thought beyond this season, when Cashman's three-year deal worth $5.4 million expires."

"Brian Cashman played an integral part this winter in the Yankees' decision to pass on Johan Santana, a move that could either make him look like a genius or come back to haunt him. But according to Hank Steinbrenner, that decision won't be the sole criterion when the time comes to talk to Cashman about a new contract."

"That script has never materialized for Jason Giambi . Instead, he now faces Year 7 of a seven-year contract, a last chance to amend a Yankee reputation soiled by steroid revelations and diminishing impact. He has a $22 million option for next season that has the same chance of being picked up as the $13 million option of Carl Pavano."

"Early in last year's Yankees camp, Johnny Damon believed it was time to leave baseball. His desire to continue was drained from a family problem, and he thought about retiring shortly after the 2006 season."

"Chien-Ming Wang's desire to sign a multi-year deal with the Yankees isn't going to be fulfilled. Nor does it look like the ace right-hander and the club are going to avoid an arbitration hearing tomorrow in St. Petersburg."

"Chien-Ming Wang said it took 'one month' to forget his disastrous two starts against the Indians in the playoffs last October. He may have to relive the experience Thursday when he and the Yankees are due to clash in an arbitration hearing."

"Chien-Ming Wang wanted to sign a long-term contract with the Yankees this offseason, as Robinson Cano did, but the Yankees weren't interested, Wang said yesterday."

"General manager Brian Cashman said yesterday he expects the team will need a hearing to settle its differences with ace right-hander Chien-Ming Wang."

"The Yankees have interest in free agent Kevin Mench as a fifth outfielder, according to a person with knowledge of discussions who asked not to be named because no deal has been struck."

"The Phillies and Mets could wind up in a bidding war for Kyle Lohse. He has remained unsigned because he insists on a five-year deal when three appears generous. The Braves aren't encouraged about signing Mark Teixeira to a contract that will keep him off the free-agent market. He would be awfully attractive to several teams, including the Yankees and Orioles, who view him as a hometown hero."

"For decades, the Twins complained privately about George Steinbrenner. The bombastic Yankees owner inflated salaries, campaigned against low-revenue teams and often embarrassed himself and the game. Today, the Twins might miss King George more than they miss Johan Santana."

"The Yankees completed negotiations with second baseman Robinson Cano yesterday on a four-year contract. Cano is expected to travel to New York today or tomorrow for a physical to complete the deal."

"Teams involved in the Johan Santana sweepstakes confirm the Twins have intensified their efforts in the past 48 hours to generate the best offers from the main suitors - and indications are, this has come down to the Mets and the Red Sox for arguably the majors' best starter. The Yankees have been kept apprised by Minnesota officials of where matters stand but continue to indicate they are following the wishes of Hal Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman to protect their prospects and shun this deal. "

"The Red Sox, Yankees and Mets remain in a holding pattern as the Twins keep Johan Santana grounded on their Minnesota runway."

"With Red Sox pitchers and catchers due to report on Valentine's Day, the endgame appears at hand for Twins pitcher Johan Santana, who should know before the start of spring training what uniform he will be wearing in 2008. His most ardent suitors remain the Red Sox and both New York teams, the Mets and Yankees."

"The end could finally be near in the Johan Santana sweepstakes. And the winner is . . . according to a report yesterday in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the answer likely will be revealed within the next 10 days, before pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Of the three main contenders for the ace left-hander, the Mets New York Mets have emerged as the front-runner mostly based on their open willingness to deal top prospects to the Twins, but the Yankees New York Yankees and Red Sox still lurk in the shadows. "

"Indications from Twins officials are that this is a critical week in the Johan Santana sweepstakes. The club has not set any hard deadlines yet but may soon tell the teams most interested in Santana -- the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox -- that it's time for them to step up with their best offers for the two-time Cy Young Award winner."

"Certainly, as long as Johan Santana remains in play, our own GMs, Brian Cashman and Omar Minaya, aren't about to say this is it for their winter's work, although in Cashman's case, it's going to take a significant change in circumstances - the exclusion of Phil Hughes in a possible deal for Santana or new revelations that Andy Pettitte had a deeper involvement in performance-enhancing substances - for him to become re-engaged with Minnesota GM Bill Smith."

"The Twins, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees are not holding up the proposed trade of Twins pitcher Johan Santana. It's Santana, who is seeking $150 million over six years."

"If true, the Indians have to hope that Sabathia's fondness for Cleveland trumps the millions he can make in a city like New York — or Los Angeles or Boston. Let's suppose that the Yankees or the Boston Red Sox, one or the other, acquires Santana — either via trade or free agency. Does it not make sense that the team that does not acquire Santana would go full bore toward acquiring Sabathia?"

"With Red Sox GM Theo Epstein sitting nearby on the same stage, Brian Cashman made it pretty clear that if it's up to him, the Yankees will not make the much-discussed deal for Johan Santana. And if Epstein's reaction is any indication, neither will the Red Sox. "

"The Yankee GM actually was a guest lecturer, joined onstage by his Red Sox counterpart Theo Epstein, at William Patterson University in Wayne, N.J. And the mostly partisan Yankee crowd - about 1,000 fans who paid $37 apiece and packed an auditorium to hear the rivals talk baseball - was most invigorated by Cashman's take on the possibility of pursuing Twin ace Johan Santana in a trade."

"It's pay now or later for Robinson Cano. The Yankees evidently have no problem with the first option, as they reached agreement yesterday on a four-year, $30 million contract with Cano, according to a source. The Yankees, who will announce the deal after Cano passes a physical, have traditionally avoided giving long term contracts to their young players, but Cano's signing perhaps signals a change in philosophy under the new leadership of Hank and Hal Steinbrenner. "

"The Yankees have long believed it's better to go year-to-year on contracts with their young players, figuring their outsized checkbook could always cover exploding costs if a player's career took off faster than projected. Plus, they wouldn't have guaranteed any cash if a player fizzled. But, in a departure from that philosophy, the team is close to a four-year, $30 million deal with Robinson Cano, according to a baseball official with knowledge of the discussions. "

"The team offered $3.2 million, and Canó requested $4.55 million. But instead of preparing for a hearing, the sides are gaining momentum on a multiyear contract in which the Yankees would buy out Canó’s arbitration years. The Yankees, who once eschewed long-term deals for young players, are in serious discussions with Canó. The talks have not been completed, but they are centered on a roughly four-year, $30 million deal that would take Canó through the 2011 season."

"Robinson Cano would be open to the idea of signing a long-term contract with the Yankees, his agent, Bobby Barad, said yesterday."

"Although Santana’s new location, assuming he is relocated, will be of great importance to much of the population of Major League Baseball — the team that gets him, the teams that don’t, the teams that will have to deal with him and the teams that will no longer have to deal with him. But getting back to the correction, another game has supplanted the Santana talks. I refer to the ongoing Roger Clemens saga. "

"The Twins say they're not panicking while holding out for the best deal for Johan Santana. But word within baseball circles is that offers by the New York Yankees (no more Phil Hughes) and Boston Red Sox are diminishing by the week. Best bet now for a trade of the two-time Cy Young Award winner appears to be with the New York Mets in a deal that would not include fast-rising hitter Fernando Martinez."

"For now, the Twins and the three most interested Santana suitors -- the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox -- are regrouping, trying to decide how far beyond their comfort zones they will go to close this deal. The end result might leave some Twins fans gasping for breath."

"The Yankees received bargain-rate production for most of the past three seasons from Robinson Cano and Chien-Ming Wang. No more. "

"Mets starting pitcher Oliver Perez submitted a 2008 salary of $6.5 million. The Mets countered with a proposal of $4.725 million... The Yankees, meanwhile, differed considerably with second baseman Robinson Cano on his value."

"The Yankees are close to a deal with top starter Chien-Ming Wang and yesterday signed infielder Wilson Betemit. But there is a sharp difference of opinion over the value of second baseman Robinson Cano."

"The Twins and first baseman Justin Morneau agreed on a one-year, $7.4 million contract, but each would like to sit down in the near future and discuss a long-term deal... There were no indications on Friday of any developments in the Santana trade situation. The Mets and Red Sox remain interested and, while the Yankees have pulled out for now, Twins officials expect to eventually hear from them before Santana is traded."