MLB

ABREU SEEKS RETURN TO YANKEES

The Yankees are going to have to make some changes if they want to return to the AL’s elite next season, but Bobby Abreu does not want to be one of them.

The 34-year-old right fielder is a free agent for the first time in his career, but told Yankees.com he is hopeful the team re-signs him.

“It’s hard to say right now what’s going to happen,” Abreu said in a story released today. “Of course I want to stay here and come back next year. Who knows what’s going to happen? You have to just wait to see what’s going on.”

Abreu hit .296 with 22 home runs and 100 RBIs this season, his sixth straight season reaching triple digits in RBIs. Abreu was acquired in the 2006 season, along with Cory Lidle.

“I’ve played here two years and two months, and I think they can see what kind of player that I am,” Abreu said. “I haven’t changed anything. I just do my things. I put my numbers every year there and I do my job like a third hitter. I’m not trying to do more than I’ve been doing, just always be the same. I think I’ve been doing good the last two years and two months.”

Though Abreu has achieved gaudy numbers hitting between Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees have not advanced past the first round with him on their team.

Abreu has said in the past that he enjoys being out of the spotlight in New York, where the focus is mainly on Rodriguez and Jeter.

GM Brian Cashman said the team is in the process of evaluating its options.

“Certainly, there’s a lot of questions,” Cashman said. “As older players and expiring contracts come on, it will create more questions on top of it. “Those are the things that we have to get down to business with, and continue to focus on to find a way to plug those current holes to get to where we want to be, but at the same time make sure that we retain the players necessary to get us to a world championship.”

Manny Ramirez, Vladamir Guerrero (if the Angels do not pick up his club option), Pat Burrell, Adam Dunn and Raul Ibanez are the other top-line outfielders available. The Yankees acquired Xavier Nady midseason and his contract does not expire until after the 2009 season. Cashman said Hideki Matsui likely will be used more as a designated hitter in the future.

YANKEES.COM