The Yankees have expressed interest to the Expos about trading for catcher Chris Widger to back up Jorge Posada, according to industry sources.
Fred Ferreira, the Expo VP of scouting who signed Bernie Williams when working for the Yankees, was in Toronto this past weekend looking at Alfonso Soriano, in whom the Expos have long been interested.
While the Yankees would never trade Soriano for a reserve catcher, the clubs have talked about outfielder Rondell White, and it’s not out of the question that Widger could be part of a package that would insert White’s potent bat into what has to be considered a disappointing Yankee left field/DH situation.
Since the Expos want to catch Michael Barrett regularly, they are listening to offers for the Widger, who will be 29 next month.
What the acquisition of Widger would mean for Jim Leyritz is unclear. Signed to a $1.25 million contract to split time with Darryl Strawberry at DH, Leyritz was moved into the role of backup catcher late in spring training and has struggled with inconsistent playing time. After going 0-for-4 yesterday as the DH, Leyritz is hitting .053 (1-for-19), and scouts say he no longer can catch up to the fastball. Of course, Leyritz believes that with more steady work, he would be better at the plate.
Widger, a career .243 hitter, is hitting .283 with two homers and five RBIs in 18 games this season.
“He can catch and throw and that’s what the Yankees are looking for,” the source said.
And Widger is not an automatic out, since he hit 15 homers and drove in 53 runs in 1998 and clubbed 14 dingers and plated 56 runs last year.
Widger isn’t cheap. He makes $1.7 million this year and next. That’s $500,000 more than Posada hauls down. There is an option for 2002 for $2.75 million or a $350,000 buyout.
As for White, the 28-year-old outfielder’s name has constantly surfaced in trade talks between the Yankees and Expos.
In 18 games this season, White is hitting .294 with one homer and 13 RBIs. Like Widger, he isn’t cheap, since he makes $4 million this year and has an option for $4 million next year or a $500,00 buyout.
