August 7, 200323 yr The New York Post reported the Yankees desperately wanted to acquire Pirates outfielder Brian Giles before the non-waiver trade deadline, but Pittsburgh's asking price was too high. The Post, citing industry sources, said the Pirates wanted 1B/DH Nick Johnson, top pitching prospect Brandon Claussen, OF Juan Rivera and minor-league pitcher Chien-Ming Wang. The newspaper said Claussen (later dealt to Cincinnati for Aaron Boone), Rivera and Wang might have been enough to obtain Giles but the Yankees balked after the Pirates also asked for Johnson. Apparently, the Yankees are growing tired of dealing with Pirates GM Dave Littlefield. He told them lefty reliever Scott Sauerbeck wasn't on the block then dealt him to the Red Sox; Littlefield then traded starter Jeff Suppan to the BoSox for 2B Freddy Sanchez. The Post said the Yankees pointed to Littlefield's past work with the Marlins when John Henry, Boston's current owner, owned the Marlins and believe there was "some hanky-panky going on."
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