Sports

STANTON SECURED, SO YANKS EYE CONE

The Yankees will open the week today by announcing the signing of lefty reliever Mike Stanton to a three-year contract in the area of $7.5 million. And while keeping Stanton in Pinstripes was important, what unfolds throughout the rest of the week will have a much bigger impact on the two-time defending World Champions’ pitching staff.

Will David Cone come to George Steinbrenner with a two-year offer for The Boss to either match, top or ignore? Or will Steinbrenner only have to equal or trump a one-year deal by another team? Already, the Indians are on board with a one-year pact worth $9 million for Cone, the heart and soul of the Yankees who made $8 million in base salary and another million in incentives last season.

Cone went 12-9 this past season when he finished second among AL hurlers with a 3.44 ERA and pitched brilliantly in the postseason. It’s believed the Yankees won’t balk at a one-year deal no matter what the money but are leery of going two years with a pitcher who will be 37 in January and who is always watched closely by Joe Torre due to the right-hander’s arm history.

Despite not being thrilled about having the 37-year-old Chuck Finley, who is seeking a three-year deal worth $36 million, the Yankees are closely monitoring his situation in the event Cone splits.

“We have to keep our eye on everything,” GM Brian Cashman said.

Nobody tracks baseball’s landscape better than Cashman because when you work for The Boss, it’s imperative that you know not only that the Mariners, Indians, Diamondbacks and Angels are interested in the Yankee-killing Finley, but what they are offering.

Thus the Yankees have been in close contact with Tom Shannon, the agent for Finley, who was 12-11 with a 4.33 ERA last year for the Angels. He is 16-9 against the Yankees.

While keeping Cone or adding Finley remains the top priority, it’s not the only thing on the Bombers’ plate. Despite never having lived up to his potential and the fact that he has failed in several roles (closer, starter, set-up man), Arthur Rhodes has drawn the interest of the Yankees, who believe pitching gurus Billy Connors and Mel Stottlemyre can turn around the 30-year-old lefty.

So much so that they are willing to pony up $11 million over four years for Rhodes. That’s one more year than the Orioles, for whom Rhodes was 3-4 with a 5.43 ERA last season, are offering.

The other option for a second lefty is keeping Allen Watson, who was 4-1 with a 2.89 ERA in 24 games for the Yankees, who signed him after the 29-year-old was released by the pitching-starved Mariners. It’s believed the Yankees are willing to go two years for $3 million for Watson, who according to agent Tony Giordano, has drawn interest from the Indians, who like him as their No. 5 starter.