Yankees brass convenes this week for organizational meetings. Clouding the issue of what the Yankees can do in the free-agent market this offseason are what free agent Robinson Cano will do and how long Alex Rodriguez will be suspended.
But here are five players who emerged from recent scouting meetings as among the Yankees targets, as reported by George A. King III:
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1. Masahiro Tanaka
AP A scout said the soon-to-be 25-year-old —Â who had a 49-9 record the last three seasons in Japan — is better than Yu Darvish. He could command a $60 million contract as well as a $60 million posting fee that would not count against the salary cap.
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2. Shin-Soo Choo
Getty Images The do-it-all outfielder is coming off a season in which he hit .285, posted a .423 on-base (second-best in the NL), hit 21 homers and stole 20 bases. He turns 32 next season. His agent is the hard-driving Scott Boras.
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3. Brian McCann
Getty Images The seven-time All-Star has hit between 18 and 24 home runs in each of his eight full big league seasons. Played in 102 games in 2013 after returning from offseason shoulder surgery and showed his fiery side in dustups with Jose Fernandez and Carlos Gomez. His price tag may be in the $15 million range for at least four seasons.
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4. Paul Maholm
Getty Images The 31-year-old southpaw is a National League lifer (Pirates, Cubs, Braves), and has made at least 26 starts in each of the past eight seasons.
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5. Stephen Drew
Getty Images A solid defender at shortstop, he hit 13 home runs this season with a .253 average (only .196 against lefties). The Red Sox could extend him the $14.1 million qualifying offer, which entitles them to draft-pick compensation.