KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – After a week-long string of meetings and conversations, a weary Brian Cashman was looking forward to one important final get-together.
Lunch with his grandmother.
Before leaving the posh Ritz-Carlton yesterday, the Yankee GM told reporters he expected to take today and tomorrow off. Even though free agency has now officially started, player movement is expected to occur slowly. Superagent Scott Boras is calling the shots for the most part, because of his slew of prime free agents, and his desire is to set the market at his own pace.
However, Cashman – who for the record has yet to talk business with Boras – would prefer to pull the trigger quickly if he sees something he likes.
“We’ve got a great team as is,” Cashman said. “We have an opportunity to make it better.
“But whatever the challenge is every year, we feel we’re up to it.”
Cashman is looking for pitching help. One report stated he could soon make a three-year, $21 million-to-$25 million offer to lefty Eric Milton. Milton’s agent, Casey Close, could not be reached for comment.
Although Milton, a 29-year-old former Yankee prospect, has a nice pedigree, Yankees fans are probably more fixated on Randy Johnson. Alan Nero, Johnson’s agent, started shoving the Big Unit out the Arizona door in a conversation with The Sporting News the other day.
“I don’t think he fits into a rebuilding situation with any club,” Nero told the magazine. “My feeling is that it would be best for everyone to focus on what is important to Randy.
“And what was important to Randy seven months ago hasn’t changed.”
Arizona GM Joe Garagiola Jr. was asked if he was worried that Nero was already making noise in mid-November.
“That’s what agents do,” Garagiola said with a smile.
But Garagiola, who has told other GMs Johnson was unavailable, opened the door a bit further on his franchise cornerstone’s departure.
“I have enormous respect for Randy,” Garagiola told The Post yesterday. “I was in frequent contact with his agents, Barry [Meister] and Alan, last summer.
“Because of Randy’s situation [as a 10/5 player], anything that might – I emphasize the word might – develop, clearly he would need to be a part of it.
“We’ll just have to see how the offseason develops.”
One report out of Arizona stated Johnson is worried the Yankees will address their pitching needs elsewhere. Cashman stated no true No. 1 starter is available and described this year’s crop as “interchangeable,” so that’s an astute observation by Johnson.
The Yankee GM was asked how quickly proposals for free agents could be turned around.
“I guess it depends on the individual discussions and who wants to push it faster,” he said. “I don’t know. We’ll see.”
