TAMPA — The Yankees may have a Werth-y asset when it comes to free-agent recruitment next offseason.
Reggie Jackson has a longstanding relationship with the family of Jayson Werth. He became good friends with Jayson’s step-dad, Dennis, when both men were Yankee outfielders from 1979-81. Jayson’s mother, Kim, is a sister to Dick Schofield, who was Jackson’s Angels teammate from 1983-86.
It was in the role of old family friend that Jackson said he had lunch yesterday at the Tampa Hyatt with Werth, the Phillies right fielder who is expected to be one of the most sought-after free agents next offseason.
Members of different organizations meet all the time and while the Commissioners Office frowns upon that, it would have to be able to illustrate tampering to act in any way.
Jackson, a special advisor to the Yankees, insists that he was not there selling the Yankees and was not authorized by any of his bosses to talk to Werth.
“This was not for the Yankees, this was for old-time’s sake,” Jackson said.
GM Brian Cashman said he was unaware of the lunch and did not even know that Jackson had a relationship with Werth.
Werth said he would not discuss what he and Jackson talked about. But the two did not exactly hide their interaction, meeting not only for more than an hour in a public place, but also again near third base for about 10 minutes before last night’s game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Jackson then had a conversation with Ryan Howard, which is quite a familiar act for Jackson.
He is a Yankees official, but also a larger-than-life baseball personality who often mixes with stars from other teams. The Yanks took advantage of that star power after the 2008 season, when Cashman brought Jackson into a key meeting in the recruitment of CC Sabathia.
The Yanks are expected to have interest in a high-end outfielder next offseason and have been tied to looming free agent Carl Crawford. But Werth also could be a target. When asked if his pre-existing relationship with Jackson could help the Yanks in any recruitment, Werth said, “I don’t know, I have never been in this situation [as a free agent] before. I refuse to look that far ahead. My commitment is to the Philadelphia Phillies and trying to win.”