Friday, December 16, 2005
Nomar's agent contacts Yankees
12/05/2005
DALLAS -- The past decade has been considered the golden age of shortstops, with Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra heading the group for much of that time.
The Yankees already feature Jeter and A-Rod on the left side of their infield, having converted Rodriguez from a Gold Glove shortstop to an MVP third baseman.
Will Garciaparra be joining them this season?
Though it appears to be an unlikely scenario, it's hard to count anything out.
General manager Brian Cashman recently heard from Arn Tellem, who represents Garciaparra, about the idea of the Yankees signing the 32-year-old free agent.
"I've heard from Arn in the past about him," Cashman said. "I'm talking to everybody about anybody on the free agent market that may fit."
According to one person with knowledge of the situation, Tellem has been shopping Garciaparra around as a multi-position player, including an outfielder.
The Yankees have no openings in the infield, with Rodriguez, Jeter, Robinson Cano and Jason Giambi firmly entrenched at their respective positions. But the club continues to look for an upgrade in center field, and with no player penciled in at the designated hitter spot, Garciaparra could see a significant number of at-bats if he were to sign with New York.
That is, if the Yankees decided to take a flyer on Garciaparra as a center fielder.
"I've had people throw ideas my way," Cashman said. "What we need for this team is to be more flexible. We don't need another station-to-station guy with power only who can't run. I would like to get some flexibility."
With the current roster, Giambi and Andy Phillips are penciled in as the first baseman/DH duo for the upcoming season. Cashman said that he is comfortable with that tandem, as the offense is stacked with several high-profile bats, such as A-Rod, Jeter, Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui.
"Andy can swing the bat," Cashman said. "If the season started today, we'd be comfortable with him being that guy. But the season doesn't start today."
Cashman spent the first day of the Winter Meetings speaking with several player agents and club executives, as he continues to search for a center fielder and bullpen help.
"We'll see if it leads to anything or not," the GM said. "They're both areas we'd like to see if we can improve upon."
With Bubba Crosby on the roster, the need for relievers is more urgent than a center fielder, as Cashman would be comfortable using Crosby in center next season.
"The guy was our starting outfielder in the playoffs; why would we be afraid to start him in center on Opening Day?" Cashman said. "What he is is still an unknown. He's got talent, he's got power, he can run and throw. He can do a lot of different things; to what degree, I don't know."
Relievers on the free agent market include Julian Tavarez, Mike Myers, Joey Eischen and Ricardo Rincon. The Yankees already have seven starting pitchers under contract, as well as Mariano Rivera, Kyle Farnsworth and Tanyon Sturtze, giving them 10 pitchers on the roster. That said, Cashman could target two more arms before the offseason is over.
"We could go 11, we could go 12; it just depends on the makeup of the club," Cashman said. "We're just trying to assemble as many quality choices as possible."
Cashman admitted that he has factored the excess of starters into his thinking, as the two hurlers who do not make the rotation will be shifted to the bullpen. Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina are the only two starters assured of spots, with Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Chien-Ming Wang, Shawn Chacon and Aaron Small fighting for the remaining three spots.
"Some are more well suited for relief than others," Cashman said. "But in all fairness, I think everybody else will compete for the remaining spots."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
DALLAS -- The past decade has been considered the golden age of shortstops, with Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra heading the group for much of that time.
The Yankees already feature Jeter and A-Rod on the left side of their infield, having converted Rodriguez from a Gold Glove shortstop to an MVP third baseman.
Will Garciaparra be joining them this season?
Though it appears to be an unlikely scenario, it's hard to count anything out.
General manager Brian Cashman recently heard from Arn Tellem, who represents Garciaparra, about the idea of the Yankees signing the 32-year-old free agent.
"I've heard from Arn in the past about him," Cashman said. "I'm talking to everybody about anybody on the free agent market that may fit."
According to one person with knowledge of the situation, Tellem has been shopping Garciaparra around as a multi-position player, including an outfielder.
The Yankees have no openings in the infield, with Rodriguez, Jeter, Robinson Cano and Jason Giambi firmly entrenched at their respective positions. But the club continues to look for an upgrade in center field, and with no player penciled in at the designated hitter spot, Garciaparra could see a significant number of at-bats if he were to sign with New York.
That is, if the Yankees decided to take a flyer on Garciaparra as a center fielder.
"I've had people throw ideas my way," Cashman said. "What we need for this team is to be more flexible. We don't need another station-to-station guy with power only who can't run. I would like to get some flexibility."
With the current roster, Giambi and Andy Phillips are penciled in as the first baseman/DH duo for the upcoming season. Cashman said that he is comfortable with that tandem, as the offense is stacked with several high-profile bats, such as A-Rod, Jeter, Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui.
"Andy can swing the bat," Cashman said. "If the season started today, we'd be comfortable with him being that guy. But the season doesn't start today."
Cashman spent the first day of the Winter Meetings speaking with several player agents and club executives, as he continues to search for a center fielder and bullpen help.
"We'll see if it leads to anything or not," the GM said. "They're both areas we'd like to see if we can improve upon."
With Bubba Crosby on the roster, the need for relievers is more urgent than a center fielder, as Cashman would be comfortable using Crosby in center next season.
"The guy was our starting outfielder in the playoffs; why would we be afraid to start him in center on Opening Day?" Cashman said. "What he is is still an unknown. He's got talent, he's got power, he can run and throw. He can do a lot of different things; to what degree, I don't know."
Relievers on the free agent market include Julian Tavarez, Mike Myers, Joey Eischen and Ricardo Rincon. The Yankees already have seven starting pitchers under contract, as well as Mariano Rivera, Kyle Farnsworth and Tanyon Sturtze, giving them 10 pitchers on the roster. That said, Cashman could target two more arms before the offseason is over.
"We could go 11, we could go 12; it just depends on the makeup of the club," Cashman said. "We're just trying to assemble as many quality choices as possible."
Cashman admitted that he has factored the excess of starters into his thinking, as the two hurlers who do not make the rotation will be shifted to the bullpen. Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina are the only two starters assured of spots, with Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Chien-Ming Wang, Shawn Chacon and Aaron Small fighting for the remaining three spots.
"Some are more well suited for relief than others," Cashman said. "But in all fairness, I think everybody else will compete for the remaining spots."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
