Not long after Kevin Youkilis signed with the Yankees, Joba Chamberlain called his new teammate.
Considering the duo’s history, including numerous times in which Chamberlain threw pitches in the vicinity of Youkilis’ head, the call probably seemed like a good way to ease any potential tension.
That may not be the case.
“I left him a voicemail,” said Chamberlain, who was then asked if his old nemesis had returned the call. “No, he did not call me back.”
In December, when Youkilis agreed to the one-year, $12 million deal to fill in for the injured Alex Rodriguez, Youkilis said he wasn’t bothered by the history with Chamberlain.
“It’s not a big deal to me,” Youkilis said at the time. “If it was that big of a deal, I wouldn’t be signing with the Yankees.”
Apparently, he has not expressed that to Chamberlain.
“I did everything I could and I can’t control what Kevin Youkilis does,” said Chamberlain, who was being honored at the B.A.T. Foundation dinner at the Marriott Marquis in Midtown Tuesday night. “Am I surprised [he didn’t return the call]? Not really. I’m bound to run into him at some point — sooner, rather than later, I’m assuming. We’ll see what happens.”
Chamberlain reiterated he is pleased to have Youkilis in The Bronx. He also was sorry to see Rafael Soriano leave for Washington.
“It’s tough to lose someone like that,” said Chamberlain, who is heading into spring training in good health. “We have the guys who can take over, but we have to pick up some slack.”
* Yankees ownership has made it clear it intends to get payroll under $189 million by 2014 to avoid a luxury tax, but the team’s former general manager isn’t buying it.
“George [Steinbrenner] had fiscal restraints when you started,” Bob Watson said. “But in spring training or the first month or definitely in the heat of the pennant race, that went off.”
Watson doesn’t believe the attitude will change with his son, Hal.
“What do you think?” Watson said. “This is New York. What did he always say? We want to win. I don’t think his family is going to change that.”
Watson admitted he hadn’t talked to the Yankees “in ages” and doesn’t know Hal Steinbrenner well. Nevertheless, Watson said he thinks the Yankees will remain big spenders.
“It happens every winter, every spring,” Watson said. “When the guys in New England or the guys in Canada start beating up on them and they find they need a couple of players, I guarantee you they want to win and if they have to pay something they’ll pay.”