MLB

STEINBRENNERS OPTING TO TALK WITH A-ROD

The Yankees are making plans for a face-to-face meeting with Alex Rodriguez in the hope they can persuade their All World third baseman and cleanup hitter to stay in The Bronx and not opt out of his contract to become a free agent.

“Apparently we will talk soon, I am told,” Rodriguez’s agent, Scott Boras, said last night when asked about the Yankees brass talking to his client. “I would expect it will include all parties.”

Asked if there were an offer on the table from the Yankees, Boras didn’t say yes or no but explained Rodriguez wasn’t interested in talking financial terms until he hears from Hank and Hal Steinbrenner about the direction George Steinbrenner’s sons intend to take with the Yankees.

“We have been very clear with the Yankees that we are not in the economic phase of the process,” Boras said. “We are considering our next step and that will be preceded by taking in information. We want to be thorough. Alex wants to know the intentions of Hank and Hal.”

One intention of the Steinbrenner sons is that if Rodriguez opts out of the contract and the Yankees don’t get the benefit of the $30 million for the next three years they would receive from the Rangers, they won’t chase the third baseman into the free agency pool. Some view that as a negotiating ploy; others believe the Steinbrenners will stick to their statement and allow Rodriguez to flee The Bronx as a free agent even, though everybody in the organization knows he can’t be replaced on the field or as a box office and television draw.

The Steinbrenners have authorized GM Brian Cashman to deliver an offer to Rodriguez as well as potential free agents Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada.

“I am not going to give a blow-by-blow (account),” Cashman said of negotiations with Rodriguez. Cashman wouldn’t comment whether he had made offers to Rivera and Posada.

“We have had low-level conversations,” said Seth Levinson, Posada’s agent. Fernando Cuza, who represents Rivera, didn’t return a call.

Rodriguez, who will easily win his second AL MVP award in the three years next month after batting .314 and leading the majors in homers (54) and RBIs (156), wants to know how the Steinbrenners are going to run the team now that they have replaced their father in the day-to-day operations. He also wants to know who the manager is going to be and what the coaching staff will look like.

Late this past season, Rodriguez admitted his relationship with Joe Torre was a lot stronger this year than at anytime during his first three years playing for the Yankees. Rodriguez also is a strong supporter of hitting coach Kevin Long and third base coach Larry Bowa. It’s not known where Rodriguez stands on Don Mattingly, Joe Girardi or Tony PeÑa as Torre’s replacement.

Although the Yankees are expected to make Rodriguez, 32, a sizeable offer, it won’t be for the 12 years that Boras believes his client can command on the open market. Boras thinks Rodriguez will become the first $30 million-a-year player.

george.king@nypost.com