ARLINGTON, Texas — With the World Series over, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Cliff Lee are now free agents.
The Yankees have exclusive negotiating rights to Jeter and Rivera until midnight Saturday. The same rule applies to the Rangers and Lee.
So, those three names will be heavily discussed today in Tampa, where the second day of Yankees organization meetings will take place at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Yankees executives met in Tampa yesterday, and managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner could give them a budget for the 2011 season today.
GM Brian Cashman and president Randy Levine were on hand for the meeting, along with COO Lonn Trost, assistant GM Jean Afterman, amateur scouting director Damon Oppenheimer, minor league head Mark Newman, pro scouting chief Billy Eppler and long-time scout Gene Michael.
In other news, Kevin Long’s new three-year contract to remain the Yankees’ hitting coach is the second-highest for that post in baseball, The Post has learned.
According to an industry source, Long’s deal is for $1.875 million, which represents close to a $700,000 raise. Long, who will be paid $600,000 in 2011, $625,000 in 2012 and $650,000 in 2013, is second to Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, who makes $750,000 per season.
As for the other Yankees coaches whose contracts expired Sunday, Cashman refused to comment on their situations. Rob Thomson, Tony Pena and Mick Kelleher are expected back, and bullpen coach Mike Harkey is a strong candidate to replace pitching coach Dave Eiland.
The Yankees have asked for and received permission from the A’s to interview former Toronto pitching coach Gil Patterson for their opening. Patterson, a former Yankees pitcher, worked in the A’s minor leagues this season.
Cashman also didn’t comment on whether the Yankees had an interest in Japanese right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, who was posted Sunday.
Teams have until 5 p.m. Friday to make a bid. In addition to arm problems, the Yankees may pass because they are still smarting from paying a $26 million posting fee for Kei Igawa, who then received $20 million in salary.
— Additional reporting by Joel Sherman