December 6, 200520 yr NY Newsday Article Garciaparra, Marlins' Pierre headed to Yankees? Yanks like former All-Star shortstop as possible utilityman BY JIM BAUMBACH Newsday December 6, 2005, 11:47 AM EST DALLAS -- Arn Tellem called Brian Cashman not too long ago and asked him to consider Nomar Garciaparra as a possible solution to the Yankees' centerfield vacancy. It's an interesting idea, but not something the Yankees are interested in. They are, however, interested in signing Garciaparra. According to a person familiar with the situation, the Yankees have interest in him as a versatile player who could fill several roles for them off the bench. Team officials do not consider it a "front-burner" item - they are more focused on finding a centerfielder and more arms in the bullpen - but the idea intrigues the Yankees. Garciaparra, coming off two injury-plagued seasons, wants to prove he can return to his All-Star form and has expressed a willingness to play anywhere on the field, although he has never played the outfield in the majors. The Yankees, meanwhile, need a versatile player off the bench. Garciaparra is interested in a deal similar to the one-year, $8-million contract he signed with the Cubs for 2005. The Indians, Dodgers, Padres, Angels and perhaps the A's are believed to be interested in the former Red Sox shortstop, who is 32. After hitting 28 home runs, driving in 105 runs and batting .301 in 2003, Garciaparra struggled, hitting only 18 homers with 71 RBIs the last two years. Cashman, meanwhile, spent the first day of the winter meetings in his suite here at the Wyndham Anatole, hosting various GMs and agents about centerfield and bullpen candidates. While the cost-cutting Marlins still are refusing to lower their asking price of Robinson Cano for Juan Pierre, they have begun to tell teams that every player on their roster - including Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera - is available for the right price. The Yankees threw out the names of Cano and Chien-Ming Wang in passing as possibilities for Willis, the Marlins' dynamic lefthander, but the Marlins told them it would take a lot more than that, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The Rangers are one of several teams talking to the Marlins about Pierre, which could benefit the Yankees. If the Rangers acquire Pierre, the Yankees would have interest in Gary Matthews Jr., whom they scouted extensively last July. "If I had an obvious opportunity for centerfield, I would move quick, but I don't," Cashman said. " ... There are players available on the market who would be an upgrade for us, but we don't like their price tags, whether it's players traded or cost in dollars." The Yankees have a meeting scheduled with agent Scott Boras today, and Johnny Damon's name most definitely will come up. The Yankees, however, do not plan to consider Damon until Boras agrees to drop his asking price of $84 million for seven years. Cashman said he plans to speak to Boras mostly about Bernie Williams, whose future with the team could be decided by tomorrow. The Yankees have until tomorrow night to decide whether to offer arbitration to Williams, which would allow them to continue negotiating. Because he made $12 million in 2005, the Yankees won't offer arbitration unless they know he will decline it, which teams and agents often agree upon ahead of time. A player's salary cannot be reduced by more than 20 percent through arbitration. "Bernie would like to come back, there's no doubt about that," Cashman said. "Bernie mentioned that to me when we got eliminated out in Anaheim. And he knows it's not in an everyday capacity. Now we have to explore whether or not it makes sense given what the rest of the makeup of the club will be, which we're working through." The Yankees are believed to have interest in righthanders Octavio Dotel, Julian Tavarez and Rick White and lefthanders Mike Myers and Ricardo Rincon for the bullpen. Dotel, coming off Tommy John surgery, is looking for a one-year, incentive-based deal. Lefthander Joey Eischen is expected to re-sign with the Nationals today. Al Leiter is a possibility if he chooses to return instead of retiring, although his situation also is complicated by tomorrow's arbitration deadline. Leiter made $8 million last season.
December 6, 200520 yr OMFG... WTF? Now I am really pissed. Aren't we trading everyone away so we can KEEP Willis and Cabrera??
December 6, 200520 yr Author or, make them an offer you can't refuse... like 10 single a pitching prospects for Willis... after all, he will make (gasp) 4 million this year.
December 6, 200520 yr yeah, they're available if you give up like five major league players and pay for them all...
December 6, 200520 yr :lol What's the point for teams to give up a lot now, they'll be available for much less in 2 or 3 years.
December 6, 200520 yr I say, why not? Lets get rid of D-Train and Miggy before the FO has to pay their post-arbitration salaries. You know they weren't going to sign them to any long-term deals. Might as well trade them all now for minor league prospects and let the prospects grow together. No need for any veterans or connections to the past. Hey, its the team of the future today after all.
December 6, 200520 yr Guys, this is Newsday. This is just national media doing their thing. If Cabrera was available you'd see teams lined up for him instead of Manny. Willis would not be far behind. The Marlins offered Pierre for Cano and Wang. The Yanks countered with Cano and Wang for Willis. The Marlins aaid no. So the writers takes that as it wasnt enough buit anyone is available. Well, sure...Willis for a paid off Matsui, Cano and Wang? Wilis for a paid off Derrek Lee, Felix Pie and Guzman or Cedeno? Everyone is available for the right price. The Marlins are not looking to deal Willis and Cabrera.
December 6, 200520 yr I say, why not? Lets get rid of D-Train and Miggy before the FO has to pay their post-arbitration salaries. You know they weren't going to sign them to any long-term deals. Might as well trade them all now for minor league prospects and let the prospects grow together. No need for any veterans or connections to the past. Hey, its the team of the future today after all. They will still grow together. Willis won't be a free agent until after 2008, and Cabrera until after 2009.
December 6, 200520 yr I say, why not? Lets get rid of D-Train and Miggy before the FO has to pay their post-arbitration salaries. You know they weren't going to sign them to any long-term deals. Might as well trade them all now for minor league prospects and let the prospects grow together. No need for any veterans or connections to the past. Hey, its the team of the future today after all. They can still grow together. Willis won't be a free agent until after 2008, and Cabrera until after 2009. the way Willis salary will escalate with arbitration, Willis may become unaffordable if no long term contract is reached this year
December 6, 200520 yr Guys, this is Newsday. This is just national media doing their thing. If Cabrera was available you'd see teams lined up for him instead of Manny. Willis would not be far behind. The Marlins offered Pierre for Cano and Wang. The Yanks countered with Cano and Wang for Willis. The Marlins aaid no. So the writers takes that as it wasnt enough buit anyone is available. Well, sure...Willis for a paid off Matsui, Cano and Wang? Wilis for a paid off Derrek Lee, Felix Pie and Guzman or Cedeno? Everyone is available for the right price. The Marlins are not looking to deal Willis and Cabrera. Newday is actually pretty reliable, they broke the ARod and Kevin Brown trades before any other paper. The simple fact that they are no longer untouchable doesn't sit well with me. Nothing'll likely get done, but next offseason will be even more fun.
December 6, 200520 yr LOLOLOL Well, the Yankees threw out Cano and Wang "in passing" for Willis. Meaning, they took a shot at it and hoped the Marlins FO were retarded enough to go for it. Naturally, the FO said it would take "a lot more than that." Basically, the Marlins would have to be blown away by an offer for Willis - the Yankees don't have what it takes to get Willis. And, frankly, no other team does either (an offer that would make sense, I mean). As for Cabrera, the FO would probably go for it if they received two all-star caliber (not necessarily currently all-stars, but those kinds of players) young position players that make slightly above the leage minimum and one or two prospects. Guys, this is Newsday. This is just national media doing their thing. If Cabrera was available you'd see teams lined up for him instead of Manny. Willis would not be far behind. Good point. Why try to get Manny when you can get a rising young star that would produce similar numbers for $20 million less and is only 22 years old? If Cabera were truly available it would be all over the sports news - ESPN would be talking about it constantly. Same thing for Willis.
December 6, 200520 yr Just FWIW, we were also quoted as saying that we'd have to be "blown away" by an offer to trade Beckett, and we know how that one turned out.
December 6, 200520 yr Would anyone go or watch the team if they traded away cabrera and/or willis? I wouldn't go to another Marlins game. Trading either of those players this offseason would be the end of me as a Marlins fan. A fan can only take so much.
December 6, 200520 yr Just FWIW, we were also quoted as saying that we'd have to be "blown away" by an offer to trade Beckett, and we know how that one turned out. Well, we traded Beckett to get rid of Lowell. Much different circumstances.
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