On the day after the Winter Meetings ended in Nashville, the Yankees yesterday continued to work on what their roster will look like at the start of spring training.
Johan Santana always remains a pinstriped possibility; Japan is abuzz about Hideki Matsui possibly leaving The Bronx for San Francisco; and two important 2006 cogs – Luis Vizcaino and Andy Phillips – have vanished.
According to a person with knowledge of the Red Sox’s thinking, the World Series champions seriously believe the Yankees remain players in the Santana Sweepstakes despite Hank Steinbrenner saying the Bombers are out.
At least one Yankees talent evaluator checked in with the Giants yesterday to see if they were going to trade right-hander Tim Lincecum.
According to a report in Sankei Sports (Tokyo), the Yankees are shopping Matsui. But the Giants aren’t going to move a potential ace for a 33-year-old outfielder coming off knee surgery. Matsui, who has a complete no-trade clause and is slated to make $26 million across the next two years, faces diminished playing time next season when the Yankees plan to have Johnny Damon in left and Jason Giambi as the DH.
San Francisco’s Noah Lowry doesn’t interest the Yankees, who may need Matsui to play left if Melky Cabrera is dealt or to replace Giambi as the DH if he breaks down. Left-hander Jonathan Sanchez (33 games; four starts) is attractive to the Yankees, but likely would not fetch Matsui on his own.
The Yankees also learned yesterday they are without two pieces of last year’s strong second half. Vizcaino, who appeared in a team-high 77 games, refused arbitration and is a free agent. First baseman Andy Phillips declined an outright to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and will become a free agent Monday.
Vizcaino wanted to remain a Yankee, but they weren’t willing to go beyond one year and the market was yielding three- and four-year deals for relievers.
“My guess is that we will have something next week,” Vizcaino’s agent, Bean Stringfellow, said. “We will start to see things shake out.”
Phillips’ departure is puzzling. With Shelley Duncan, Wilson Betemit and Giambi to play first, the Yankees don’t have All-Stars ahead of Phillips, who batted .292 in 61 games (49 starts) last year and was the starter until fracturing a bone in the right wrist on Sept. 2 that ended his season.
“I think it’s time for a fresh start for him,” agent Rex Gary said. “Had he not gotten hurt he would have been the first baseman during the postseason.”
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Because they already have agreed to contracts and are awaiting results of physicals, Alex Rodriguez and Mariano Rivera accepting arbitration was a formality.