TAMPA, Fla. — He might not be out front anymore, but that doesn’t mean George Steinbrenner has lost his hunger for victory.
When Yankees brass entered Steinbrenner’s South Tampa home yesterday afternoon, The Boss made it very clear what he wants from the 2010 season: a 28th World Series championship.
“He was all business,” GM Brian Cashman told The Post at the end of Day 1 of the organizational meetings, shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“Obviously, he wants another [World Series title].”
Hal Steinbrenner, team president Randy Levine, COO Lonn Trost, manager Joe Girardi and Cashman huddled at the ballpark in the morning and then left for The Boss’ house at noon. There they spent two hours filling in Steinbrenner about what possible moves will be made to fill the two biggest voids: left field and starting pitching.
According to Cashman, The Boss was in good spirits.
“We went to his house like we did last year and had a business-type lunch,” Cashman said.
Cashman refused to divulge what The Boss thought of the GM’s ideas to keep the Yankees on top of the baseball universe, but did shoot down speculation the Yankees were getting close to a deal with outfielder and leadoff hitter Johnny Damon.
“We haven’t held any negotiations with anybody yet,” Cashman said.
While Cashman said he has had contact with the agents for Andy Pettitte, Hideki Matsui and Damon, none of them has been made a priority.
“They all knew we are having these meetings,” Cashman said of the gathering that will end this afternoon. “They know there is nothing happening with us. They know they aren’t losing ground to anybody else. The business we discussed [yesterday] was done internally. There were no outgoing phone calls.”
Naturally, Cashman didn’t reveal what was discussed at the ballpark — where Hank Steinbrenner surfaced in the afternoon after attending a wake for a long-time Steinbrenner family friend — or at The Boss’ house.
A request by The Post to meet face-to-face with Hal Steinbrenner was declined.
However, the smart money was on Cashman bringing the Steinbrenners up to speed on what the Blue Jays are doing with stud pitcher Roy Halladay, and what the agents for John Lackey, Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are looking for.
Since Girardi was on hand, what to do with Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain was likely discussed. Should one be returned to the rotation, the Yankees will see what it will take to sign free agent right-hander Rafael Soriano, whose power arm has seduced some Yankee scouts.