TRADE DEADLINE ! GIAMBI w/possible deadly disease.
RobE
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in Sports Talk
Time Running Out on Chance to Fix Problems
By TYLER KEPNER
Published: July 28, 2004
ORONTO, July 27 - The Yankees have several important questions that may not be answered before Saturday's trading deadline. They do not know how much they can count on starters Kevin Brown and Mike Mussina, and Jason Giambi's health is a mystery.
George Steinbrenner, the principal owner, does not tolerate uncertainty, and the Yankees may move to shore up those areas.
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The Arizona Diamondbacks' ace, Randy Johnson, is the Yankees' first - and only - target for the rotation, but they have not received a trade proposal from Arizona.
The Diamondbacks scout Bryan Lambe gave positive reports on some Yankees prospects, but the Arizona front office has not told the Yankees what it would take to acquire Johnson.
Jerry Colangelo, the Diamondbacks' owner, returned from a vacation to Italy on Monday, and the Yankees are hoping that his presence could speed up trade talks.
But the Diamondbacks are well aware of the Yankees' interest in Johnson, and they could spend the next few days trying to solicit offers from other teams to create a market for Johnson, who must approve any trade.
There are several factors in the Yankees' favor. Few other teams can afford to pay the remaining $22 million on his contract through next season, and one of the teams that can, Anaheim, is involved in trade talks for a different starter, Pittsburgh's Kris Benson, and has expressed reluctance to deal its top prospects.
That is not an issue for the Yankees, who would deal any prospects and have asked the Diamondbacks if they would be interested in a three-way deal. Joe Garagiola Jr., the Diamondbacks' general manager, did not return a phone call Tuesday but expressed doubt Friday about a three-team deal.
"Multiteam deals are very difficult to put together," he said. "They are difficult things to do."
In the meantime, the Yankees could trade for or sign a first baseman as protection against an extended absence by Giambi, who has been sick for almost two months with an intestinal parasite. They have several options readily available, including three who would not need to pass through waivers if acquired after Saturday.
Without Giambi, the Yankees have only one first baseman, Tony Clark. Their backup is Miguel Cairo, who has played only eight games there in his career. The veterans Fred McGriff and John Olerud have been released and are available, and another veteran, Eric Karros, was designated for assignment by Oakland on Tuesday.
The former Yankee Tino Martinez, of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, is intriguing to the Yankees. If the Devil Rays continue to plummet after playing so well in June, they may want to trade him to the Yankees.
A less likely but splashier acquisition would be Toronto's Carlos Delgado, who hit 42 home runs last season and is in the final year of his contract.
Delgado told Toronto reporters Tuesday that he would not rule out accepting a trade to the Yankees, but he has already told the Blue Jays that he will not waive his no-trade clause, and the team does not expect that to change.
As they wait for Giambi to return, Clark will remain the Yankees' first baseman.
Manager Joe Torre said the Yankees did not need to upgrade.
"He's batting eighth in our lineup," Torre said. "Comparing him to what Jason normally does is unfair. But to compare him to whoever bats eighth in the other lineup is pretty darn good."
Sheffield Shielding the Pain
Gary Sheffield said he had not heard back from Dr. Frank Jobe, the Los Angeles orthopedist whose opinion Sheffield sought on his injured left shoulder.
Jobe's analysis could determine whether Sheffield decides to have another cortisone shot.
While he waits, Sheffield is dealing with the pain by using an unusual style to catch fly balls. Instead of reaching up, which would require him to lift his shoulder, Sheffield keeps his arm tucked at his side and catches the ball around his belt.
"I was always taught to catch the ball at my side, so I don't block my eyes," Sheffield said. "But it's usually not this low."
By TYLER KEPNER
Published: July 28, 2004
ORONTO, July 27 - The Yankees have several important questions that may not be answered before Saturday's trading deadline. They do not know how much they can count on starters Kevin Brown and Mike Mussina, and Jason Giambi's health is a mystery.
George Steinbrenner, the principal owner, does not tolerate uncertainty, and the Yankees may move to shore up those areas.
Advertisement
The Arizona Diamondbacks' ace, Randy Johnson, is the Yankees' first - and only - target for the rotation, but they have not received a trade proposal from Arizona.
The Diamondbacks scout Bryan Lambe gave positive reports on some Yankees prospects, but the Arizona front office has not told the Yankees what it would take to acquire Johnson.
Jerry Colangelo, the Diamondbacks' owner, returned from a vacation to Italy on Monday, and the Yankees are hoping that his presence could speed up trade talks.
But the Diamondbacks are well aware of the Yankees' interest in Johnson, and they could spend the next few days trying to solicit offers from other teams to create a market for Johnson, who must approve any trade.
There are several factors in the Yankees' favor. Few other teams can afford to pay the remaining $22 million on his contract through next season, and one of the teams that can, Anaheim, is involved in trade talks for a different starter, Pittsburgh's Kris Benson, and has expressed reluctance to deal its top prospects.
That is not an issue for the Yankees, who would deal any prospects and have asked the Diamondbacks if they would be interested in a three-way deal. Joe Garagiola Jr., the Diamondbacks' general manager, did not return a phone call Tuesday but expressed doubt Friday about a three-team deal.
"Multiteam deals are very difficult to put together," he said. "They are difficult things to do."
In the meantime, the Yankees could trade for or sign a first baseman as protection against an extended absence by Giambi, who has been sick for almost two months with an intestinal parasite. They have several options readily available, including three who would not need to pass through waivers if acquired after Saturday.
Without Giambi, the Yankees have only one first baseman, Tony Clark. Their backup is Miguel Cairo, who has played only eight games there in his career. The veterans Fred McGriff and John Olerud have been released and are available, and another veteran, Eric Karros, was designated for assignment by Oakland on Tuesday.
The former Yankee Tino Martinez, of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, is intriguing to the Yankees. If the Devil Rays continue to plummet after playing so well in June, they may want to trade him to the Yankees.
A less likely but splashier acquisition would be Toronto's Carlos Delgado, who hit 42 home runs last season and is in the final year of his contract.
Delgado told Toronto reporters Tuesday that he would not rule out accepting a trade to the Yankees, but he has already told the Blue Jays that he will not waive his no-trade clause, and the team does not expect that to change.
As they wait for Giambi to return, Clark will remain the Yankees' first baseman.
Manager Joe Torre said the Yankees did not need to upgrade.
"He's batting eighth in our lineup," Torre said. "Comparing him to what Jason normally does is unfair. But to compare him to whoever bats eighth in the other lineup is pretty darn good."
Sheffield Shielding the Pain
Gary Sheffield said he had not heard back from Dr. Frank Jobe, the Los Angeles orthopedist whose opinion Sheffield sought on his injured left shoulder.
Jobe's analysis could determine whether Sheffield decides to have another cortisone shot.
While he waits, Sheffield is dealing with the pain by using an unusual style to catch fly balls. Instead of reaching up, which would require him to lift his shoulder, Sheffield keeps his arm tucked at his side and catches the ball around his belt.
"I was always taught to catch the ball at my side, so I don't block my eyes," Sheffield said. "But it's usually not this low."
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