In a minor move – compared to selecting a new manager and negotiating multi-year deals with Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez – the Yankees have left their initial wave of baseball operations meetings certain they are going to pick up Bobby Abreu’s $16 million option for next season.
However, team officials are also stressing Shelly Duncan needs to be given substantial plate appearances next year as a caddy to Abreu and in other roles. The organization is intrigued by Duncan’s major league cameo, especially because there is a dearth of right-handed power in the game. Team officials like Duncan’s energy and the chance he could provide a helpful element at near minimum wage.
The Yanks envision Duncan getting at-bats in right field and as the DH, and also are toying with the notion of leaving first base as a place for Duncan, Wilson Betemit and perhaps even Posada to get at-bats.
Abreu, who batted .263 before the All-Star break, used a .305 second half to finish with a .283 average. He scored 123 runs and drove in 101.
Duncan, who was slowed toward the end of the season with a hernia problem, hit .257 with seven homers and 17 RBIs in 34 games. He batted .303 (10-for-33) with three homers and 10 RBIs against lefties.
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Scott Boras was spotted in Miami with Rodriguez, but according to several sources on both sides of the fence, a meeting hasn’t been set up to discuss what it will take to get Rodriguez to sign an extension with the Yankees. According to Hank Steinbrenner, the Yankees want Boras and Rodriguez to meet with them face to face. However, the Yankees aren’t sure if that fits into Boras’ strategy.
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Taking a break from the extensive meeting on the fourth floor of Legends Field yesterday was Hal Steinbrenner tooling around the parking lot in a 1978 Corvette, the pace car of the Indy 500.