YANKEE NOTES
ANAHEIM – When the Yankees gave Drew Henson $17 million, they firmly believed he would be their starting third baseman this year. Yesterday’s acquisition of Aaron Boone from the Reds for Brandon Claussen likely means Henson never will play third for the Bombers.
Instead, he likely will be moved from third base to right field, traded, or eventually drift to the NFL, where Houston holds the rights to the former Michigan QB.
“Drew Henson hasn’t developed to the point where he is in consideration for the major-league side,” GM Brian Cashman said of Henson, who was batting .227 with 12 homers and 54 RBIs in 106 games for Columbus (Triple-A). “By this move, we recognize there is a position of need for the organization and we can improve upon it now. The move for Aaron Boone speaks volumes as to where Drew Henson is in terms of his development at this time.”
Henson, who was with Claussen when the pitcher heard news of the trade, isn’t thinking of giving up baseball for football.
“There are only so many things I can do,” Henson said. “It doesn’t change a lot for me regardless of whom they get to play third base.”
Agent Casey Close said of Henson, “He is a baseball player. He is not looking to go someplace else.”
* Yanks will have Gabe White report to their complex in Tampa, where he will have a groin problem worked on. The team hopes to have the lefty reliever, acquired from the Reds yesterday, in the big leagues in three weeks.
* Acquired Wednesday from Arizona for Raul Mondesi, David Dellucci was in Joe Torre’s lineup last night against the Angels, playing right field and hitting eighth.
Torre responded to Mondesi’s comments that Torre never told him he was being pinch-hit for Sunday in Boston. “I didn’t have time, I had three pinch-hitters,” Torre said. As for Mondesi’s complaints that he was hitting eighth, Torre said, “He never expressed that to me.”
* Jose Contreras (strained right shoulder) threw BP yesterday in Tampa. He threw 40 pitches to live hitters for the first time in seven weeks.
