Friday, December 16, 2005
Williams' Bronx career could be ending
12/06/2005
DALLAS -- Bernie Williams may be entering the final day of his Yankees career, as the club has not yet decided whether to offer arbitration to the free agent.
Should the Yankees not offer Williams arbitration or sign him to a new contract by midnight on Wednesday, they would not be able to sign him again until May 1, effectively ending his 15-year career in pinstripes.
General manager Brian Cashman met with agent Scott Boras on Tuesday to discuss Williams' situation, as well as some of Boras' other free agents, including center fielder Johnny Damon and reliever Julian Tavarez.
"We had discussions," Cashman said. "We'll have more."
One source with knowledge of the situation said that the Yankees are unlikely to offer arbitration to Williams, making Wednesday night's deadline a hard deadline.
Cashman said that he would speak with Boras about Williams again on Tuesday night or Wednesday, though he was not sure if he would meet with Williams, who is in Dallas consulting with trainers.
"I don't necessarily have to meet with Bernie," Cashman said. "It's not something that's going to be required."
The Yankees could bring Williams back as a backup outfielder and part-time designated hitter, though they have no interest in him as a starting center fielder. Last month, manager Joe Torre expressed a desire to bring Williams back to the Bronx, but Cashman said that the organization has not decided whether or not it is a good fit.
"We're still talking about that," Cashman said.
Williams isn't the only free agent to whom the Yankees must offer arbitration or cut ties with on Wednesday, as the club has 10 other free agents facing the same deadline.
Of those 10 -- a list that includes Kevin Brown, Tino Martinez and Felix Rodriguez -- only Al Leiter and Ruben Sierra are likely to be considered for an arbitration offer, and those would probably be with a handshake agreement to decline it, thus extending the negotiating deadline until Jan. 8.
"I'll deal with arbitration -- who's in, who's out, who we offer just to buy more time, and who we decline and sever the relationships with," Cashman said. "All of that will come tomorrow."
The Leiter side: Cashman spoke with Leiter's agent, Alan Hendricks, on Tuesday about the veteran left-hander's situation. Leiter hasn't decided whether to retire or play a 20th season in the Majors.
Should the Yankees bring Leiter back, it would be in a left-handed specialist role, which he filled toward the end of the regular season and in the playoffs. The Yankees could sign Leiter to a Major League or Minor League deal, giving him a chance to win a job in Spring Training.
"We wouldn't be committing to something," Cashman said. "It would be one of those situations where we have an interest and might look at it. It remains to be seen. We saw enough to pique our interest, and it's not a very strong market."
Leiter's presence would also give the Yankees a pitcher with the ability to pitch long relief or provide a spot start, though those would not be his primary functions.
"It's nice to have people in the 'pen who can give you protection," Cashman said. "You're going to have days when your starter isn't going to be able to go, or he gets knocked out early."
Tony on the block? Several teams have called the Yankees about Tony Womack, who doesn't appear to have a true role with New York in 2006.
Womack, who signed a two-year, $4 million deal last winter to be the Yankees' second baseman, was replaced by Robinson Cano in early May and limited to a backup outfielder's role for most of the season.
"I've had some teams express an interest in Tony," Cashman said. "We're in a situation where we'll listen to any concept that might make sense for us with any of our players who don't have full no-trades."
Several teams are looking for a second baseman, including the Royals and Cardinals. The Yankees don't have to move Womack before the season, though they certainly wouldn't be opposed to doing so.
"There's a role that Tony can fill here, without a doubt -- if he's here," Cashman said. "If he's not, maybe we can put him in a different situation which is closer to what he signed here for. Time will tell."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
DALLAS -- Bernie Williams may be entering the final day of his Yankees career, as the club has not yet decided whether to offer arbitration to the free agent.
Should the Yankees not offer Williams arbitration or sign him to a new contract by midnight on Wednesday, they would not be able to sign him again until May 1, effectively ending his 15-year career in pinstripes.
General manager Brian Cashman met with agent Scott Boras on Tuesday to discuss Williams' situation, as well as some of Boras' other free agents, including center fielder Johnny Damon and reliever Julian Tavarez.
"We had discussions," Cashman said. "We'll have more."
One source with knowledge of the situation said that the Yankees are unlikely to offer arbitration to Williams, making Wednesday night's deadline a hard deadline.
Cashman said that he would speak with Boras about Williams again on Tuesday night or Wednesday, though he was not sure if he would meet with Williams, who is in Dallas consulting with trainers.
"I don't necessarily have to meet with Bernie," Cashman said. "It's not something that's going to be required."
The Yankees could bring Williams back as a backup outfielder and part-time designated hitter, though they have no interest in him as a starting center fielder. Last month, manager Joe Torre expressed a desire to bring Williams back to the Bronx, but Cashman said that the organization has not decided whether or not it is a good fit.
"We're still talking about that," Cashman said.
Williams isn't the only free agent to whom the Yankees must offer arbitration or cut ties with on Wednesday, as the club has 10 other free agents facing the same deadline.
Of those 10 -- a list that includes Kevin Brown, Tino Martinez and Felix Rodriguez -- only Al Leiter and Ruben Sierra are likely to be considered for an arbitration offer, and those would probably be with a handshake agreement to decline it, thus extending the negotiating deadline until Jan. 8.
"I'll deal with arbitration -- who's in, who's out, who we offer just to buy more time, and who we decline and sever the relationships with," Cashman said. "All of that will come tomorrow."
The Leiter side: Cashman spoke with Leiter's agent, Alan Hendricks, on Tuesday about the veteran left-hander's situation. Leiter hasn't decided whether to retire or play a 20th season in the Majors.
Should the Yankees bring Leiter back, it would be in a left-handed specialist role, which he filled toward the end of the regular season and in the playoffs. The Yankees could sign Leiter to a Major League or Minor League deal, giving him a chance to win a job in Spring Training.
"We wouldn't be committing to something," Cashman said. "It would be one of those situations where we have an interest and might look at it. It remains to be seen. We saw enough to pique our interest, and it's not a very strong market."
Leiter's presence would also give the Yankees a pitcher with the ability to pitch long relief or provide a spot start, though those would not be his primary functions.
"It's nice to have people in the 'pen who can give you protection," Cashman said. "You're going to have days when your starter isn't going to be able to go, or he gets knocked out early."
Tony on the block? Several teams have called the Yankees about Tony Womack, who doesn't appear to have a true role with New York in 2006.
Womack, who signed a two-year, $4 million deal last winter to be the Yankees' second baseman, was replaced by Robinson Cano in early May and limited to a backup outfielder's role for most of the season.
"I've had some teams express an interest in Tony," Cashman said. "We're in a situation where we'll listen to any concept that might make sense for us with any of our players who don't have full no-trades."
Several teams are looking for a second baseman, including the Royals and Cardinals. The Yankees don't have to move Womack before the season, though they certainly wouldn't be opposed to doing so.
"There's a role that Tony can fill here, without a doubt -- if he's here," Cashman said. "If he's not, maybe we can put him in a different situation which is closer to what he signed here for. Time will tell."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
