Cliff Lee and Carl Crawford aren’t the only players waiting to become free agents. Nor is free agency the lone avenue the Yankees can take to make improvements this winter.
It’s just that Lee towers above the other free-agent hurlers and Crawford is the best available outfielder.
Signing Lee and/or Crawford would certainly improve the Yankees. But what happens if Lee and Crawford shun Yankees dollars? Texas is going to make a push for both. The Angels figure to be players for Crawford.
Then how do the Yankees fill the void behind CC Sabathia created by A.J. Burnett’s miserable season?
And if they see a need to upgrade the offense, the outfield is the most likely place to make changes. The Yankees view Brett Gardner as an everyday player, but Crawford is an elite player.
Also, as the ALCS showed, the Yankees could always use more arms in the bullpen.
“The only way they are going to get better is to sign Lee and Crawford,” a baseball executive said yesterday of the Yankees, who of course have to deal with re-signing Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, who may ask for a two-year deal.
So what happens if Lee and Crawford go elsewhere?
Free agent targets
After Lee, the list of free agent pitchers is thin, with Bronson Arroyo, who has an option the Reds are expected to pick up, the best. Carl “American Idle” Pavano and Jake Westbrook are behind Arroyo, and there’s no chance Pavano returns to The Bronx.
Beyond Crawford among outfielders sits Jayson Werth, and the Red Sox have started asking people who know the right-handed hitting outfielder about his personality and makeup. The Red Sox are looking to add an outfielder and bolster the bullpen.
Johnny Damon will be available and said recently he would welcome a return to The Bronx. But the Yankees view him as a DH type and they have that seat warm for Jorge Posada.
Potential trades
The Royals are expected to listen on right-hander Zack Greinke but would likely want top prospect Jesus Montero included in any deal. There are voices inside the Yankees’ organization who believe Montero could be their starting catcher next season. And Kansas City could ask for Ivan Nova, too.
Nick Swisher has one year and $10 million left. He has had two strong regular seasons followed by poor Octobers. The Yankees would be foolish not to listen on trade offers for him.
Joba Chamberlain’s stock has fallen, not only with the Yankees but with other organizations. Still, there is a belief the Yankees jerked him around moving between bullpen, starter and back to the pen and that another club can make him better than he was this year. Again, the Yankees should listen.
Bullpen help
The Yankees would like to bring Kerry Wood back, but he might be seeking more money than the Yankees will want to spend.
Rays closer Rafael Soriano, a free agent, wants to stay in that role, so he isn’t an option.
Free agent Jose Contreras, who pitched well and inexpensively for the Phillies, is somebody who could help in the middle innings, which can be an issue because Alfredo Aceves’ future is murky due to back problems.
george.king@nypost.com