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Yankees could trade for a DH

In a conference call with reporters discussing the Michael Pineda trade, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that he’d be more inclined to trade from his pitching depth to acquire a designated hitter than to sign one on the open free agent market.

When the Yankees officially announce the signing of right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, they’ll have seven starters vying for five spots. CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Pineda, Phil Hughes, A.J. Burnett and Freddy Garcia are also in that mix. 

“Maybe I use our excess pitching to find a bat,” Cashman said. “That’s a possibility. … We stretched the payroll to get (Kuroda) done, so I’m not sure what we have financially. I think we’ll look at the trade market first and foremost and see where that takes us.”

Among the DH options out there, the Yankees have reportedly heard from Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Vladimir Guerrero and Raul Ibanez, but are not thought to consider any of them an urgent priority. 

- Bryan Hoch

Yanks have heard from Vlad, Ibanez

The Yankees have heard from the representatives for free agents Vladimir Guerrero and Raul Ibanez about their opening at designated hitter, Newsday’s Ken Davidoff reports. 

Guerrero and Ibanez could join a crowd of candidates vying for the Yankees’ attention in the wake of last week’s Jesus Montero trade to the Mariners. New York is known to have reached out to the representatives for Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Carlos Pena, but it is believed that the Yankees have only between $1 and $2 million to spend on a DH.

Internally, the Yankees are touting a tandem of Andruw Jones and Minor League slugger Jorge Vazquez to tackle DH duties, while also using the spot to help rest players like Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira. Davidoff’s report also noted that Jack Cust’s representatives talked to the Yankees, but Cust agreed to a contract with the Astros on Tuesday.

- Bryan Hoch

Yankees discussing Edwin Jackson

The Yankees are balking at a high asking price for the Cubs’ Matt Garza and have instead turned their attention to free agent right-hander Edwin Jackson, CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman reported Tuesday.

Noting that the Yankees and Jackson “aren’t in any way close to a deal,” Heyman suggests that New York and agent Scott Boras could eventually find middle ground. Boras has been reported to be looking for a four or five year pact for Jackson worth approximately $15 million per season.

That could prove too high for the Yankees, who have been preaching fiscal responsibility this winter and would not get involved with free agents C.J. Wilson or Mark Buehrle, despite their stated need for a starting pitcher to slot behind CC Sabathia in the rotation.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post noted on Tuesday that the Yankees like Jackson, but not enough to give him a big multi-year contract. They’d be more inclined to offer Hiroki Kuroda a one-year contract, but even that is too costly for their budget at the time.

- Bryan Hoch

Red Sox could make play for Andruw

The Yankees may have some company in trying to secure Andruw Jones for their bench. The New York Daily News reported Wednesday that the Red Sox are believed to have joined New York in pursuit of the 34-year-old outfielder.

Jones provided right-handed power for the Yankees last year, slugging 13 homers in limited playing time, with most of his 48 starts coming against left-handed hurlers. The Daily News noted that while J.D. Drew’s contract has expired in Boston, neither Ryan Kalish nor Josh Reddick have a great track record against left-handed pitching. 

- Bryan Hoch

Andruw mulling return to Yankees

The Yankees would like Andruw Jones back as a reserve outfielder who can mash left-handed pitching, and agent Scott Boras says his client is aware of Brian Cashman’s interest.

“I know they liked him,” Boras said. “Cash told me that he thought he filled the role that he had very well. He was very well respected in the clubhouse, so I’m sure they want him back.”

Jones hit 13 homers in 190 at-bats, and while the part-time role wasn’t his first choice, Boras said Jones knows that playing every day is unlikely.

“I think he wanted to play more than what he played in New York,” Boras said. “Certainly, hitting 13 home runs in a couple hundred at bats, he’s probably deserving. He understands he’s not going to be a full time player.”

- Bryan Hoch

Yankees win rights to Nakajima

The Yankees have won the rights to negotiate with Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima, Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday.


Nakajima, 29, was posted by the Seibu Lions and is a lifetime .302 hitter in Japan, having debuted in 2002. The Yankees will have 30 days to sign Nakajima to a Major League or Minor League contract.


They are believed have interest in the right-handed hitting Nakajima as a possible backup to shortstop Derek Jeter, as well as seeing some time at third base and second base. Most of Nakajima’s professional experience has come at shortstop.


New York used Eduardo Nunez in a similar role this year, and though the Yankees have been reluctant to consider dealing Nunez, general manager Brian Cashman said Nunez has drawn trade interest from clubs.

- Bryan Hoch

Yankees open to dealing Burnett

The Yankees have continued to tell teams that they are willing to listen to trade offers for any player without a no-trade clause, a group that includes A.J. Burnett.

But thus far, no club has shown interest in Burnett, who is owed $33 million over the next two seasons. The New York Post reported that the Yankees are willing to pick up $8 million of Burnett’s remaining salary.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that the market in Dallas has proven extremely difficult to find willing trade partners. He hedged when asked if the time spent at the Hilton Anatole has been productive thus far.

“Productive implies I feel we’re going to get somewhere,” Cashman said. “Right now, I feel like productive is too strong of a word. We’re working, but I think it’s going to be hard to add to what we have currently.”

- Bryan Hoch

Yankees keeping an eye on Danks

The Yankees have been linked to White Sox left-hander John Danks for some time, with little movement on the situation. Meanwhile, Brian Cashman has been talking about how he’s made his calls, but some teams seem to be asking for too much from New York’s farm system.

This could be an example. Jon Heyman tweets that the White Sox asked the Yankees for both catcher Jesus Montero and left-hander Manny Banuelos in exchange for the 26-year-old Danks. The Yankees weren’t interested at that price, but they will keep listening with regard to Danks, who was 8-12 with a 4.33 ERA in 27 starts this year for Chicago.

- Bryan Hoch

Chavez interested in Yankees return

Veteran infielder Eric Chavez has decided to play in 2012 and remains interested in a return engagement with the Yankees, among other clubs that have drawn his attention.

The Yankees enjoyed having Chavez as a reserve corner infielder, backing up both Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira in 2011.

– Bryan Hoch

Manny doesn’t intrigue Yankees

Hearing news that Manny Ramirez has applied to Major League Baseball for reinstatement, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was succinct in summing up his interest level, telling the Wall Street Journal, “I don’t think so.”

Playing for the Rays, Ramirez retired in April after being hit with a 100-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. The Washington Heights product was 1-for-17 with Tampa Bay this year. 

- Bryan Hoch

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