By GEORGE A. KING III
According to several baseball officials, the Yankees
remain in the Mark Teixeira hunt. But the same connected voices insist if the Yankees don't land the switch-hitting first baseman, they will turn their money toward controversial slugger Manny Ramirez.
"If they can't get Teixeira, they are right there on Manny," an official with knowledge of the Yankees' plan said yesterday.
The attention being paid to bolster the lineup that lost Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi doesn't mean the Yankees are out of the pitching business. They remain engaged with Andy Pettitte, Derek Lowe and Ben Sheets. Eventually, the Yankees believe Pettitte will take their $10 million offer.
Only fools count out the Yankees when it comes to free agents. Nevertheless, Teixeira has eight-year offers for $160 million from the Angels and Nationals. The Red Sox are wary of eight years but aren't shy of six for $150. Having already spent $243.5 million for CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, the Yankees may not want to go that high (or for that many years) for Teixeira.
If they pass on Teixeira, the Yankees will try and bolster a sagging lineup with Ramirez, one of the greatest run producers in baseball history. And to clear some money, they might entertain offers for outfielder Xavier Nady, who made $3.35 million last year, is arbitration eligible and a free agent after the 2009 season.
"Hank (Steinbrenner) wants him, but he isn't alone in the organization," a source said of Ramirez. "They need somebody to protect Alex (Rodriguez)."
The Yankees are likely to offer Ramirez, 37 in May, a three-year deal in the $20 million range, though agent Scott Boras reportedly is seeking a five-year deal for the future Hall of Fame lock.
Because the signings of Sabathia (seven years for $161 million) and A.J. Burnett (five years for $82.5 million) leave $48.5 million of the $88 million that came off the Yankees' payroll, there is plenty of glue left for more additions.
Ramirez carried the Dodgers into the playoffs with his bat, producing a .396 batting average, 17 homers and 53 RBIs for the Dodgers in 53 games after getting banished from Boston. Combined, he batted .332 with 37 homers and 121 RBIs. Ramirez forced his way out of Boston with boorish behavior that included shoving 64-year-old traveling secretary Jack McCormick to the ground.
Another option would be to obtain right-handed hitting outfielder Jermaine Dye, 35 next month, from the White Sox.
"He's available, but they aren't going to give him away," said a source with knowledge of Chicago's plan to get younger.
Dye has the Yankees among the six teams for which he can veto a trade, and it's not likely the Yankees would give him an extension (or pick up a $12 million option for 2010) to waive the no-trade clause.
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