If the Yankees don’t bag two of the top three free agent pitchers, they aren’t going to deposit the money back into the Steinbrenner family vault or throw a financial lifeline to America’s mismanaged auto industry.
They will attempt to add muscle to a lineup that is expected to lose Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi and hope to slug their way back into the postseason.
According to a person familiar with the club’s thinking, if only one of the pitchers from the free agent pool of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe sign with the Yanks, they are set to be aggressive with switch-hitting free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira.
Though there are organizational voices wary of Manny Ramirez, the controversial slugger has his backers, one of whom is Hank Steinbrenner.
“They have the money and know the lineup could use help,” the person said of the Yankees, who have $90 million coming off the payroll and a pinstriped cash cow in their new stadium.
The Yankees’ focus has been rebuilding the pitching staff that currently houses starters Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain and question marks Phil Hughes and Alfredo Aceves. They offered Sabathia a staggering six-year deal for $140 million. Because the lefty’s only other reported offer belongs to the Brewers (six years; $100 million) some doubt Sabathia’s desire to pitch for the Yankees, who aren’t going to leave it out there forever, according to owner Hal Steinbrenner, who officially was handed control of the Bombers on Thursday.
The Angels and Dodgers are linked to Sabathia, but aren’t believed to have made an offer.
“What’s holding up the other teams?” an industry source asked yesterday. “The longer (Sabathia) stares at the $140 million, he might say, ‘I’ll take it.’ Especially if there is nothing else.”
The Yankees believe nobody will match their dollars. The Angels are deciding what to do with Teixeira, and the Dodgers have shortstop Rafael Furcal, Ramirez and Lowe to deal with.
The Blue Jays aren’t ruling out a five-year offer to Burnett, who pitched for them the past three years after signing a five-year deal that he opted out of after this season.
General manager J.P. Ricciardi let Burnett and agent Darek Braunecker know the Blue Jays’ offer will not be for the most money. Nevertheless, Burnett liked Toronto and might be tempted to stay for the right deal.
“Don’t forget, they can be creative, they were creative the last time,” a source said of the Blue Jays, who agreed to the opt-out in the original five-year, $55 million deal.
Burnett is seeking a five-year deal and because the Cubs gave Ryan Dempster a four-year deal worth $52 million ($13 million per) it’s not out of the question Burnett, 32 in January, could command $15 million to $16 million a year, which is likely out of the Blue Jays’ budget.
The Yankees are wary of a fifth year because of Burnett’s medical history.
As for Giambi, agent Arn Tellem said, “Several teams are interested. It should heat up after Thanksgiving.”
The AL champion Rays are one of the clubs with a need for a left-handed power bat.