The Yankees probably will pass on Mike Piazza, a major-league official told The Post yesterday.
Although sources said GM Brian Cashman was evaluating the situation and hadn’t made a final decision, Piazza’s big right-handed bat simply isn’t a great fit on a club that could average six runs per game without the former Met.
He can’t play first base, the Yankees need defensive insurance for Jason Giambi, and the team only wants to carry four bench players.
So unless George Steinbrenner demands that Piazza be fitted for pinstripes, it appears the 37-year-old needs to look elsewhere.
Cashman canvassed team executives this week after Piazza’s agent, Dan Lozano, offered his client to the Yanks for $2 million. Apparently, Cashman received negative feedback from his internal straw poll.
It’s believed Cashman communicated with Lozano yesterday, although the agent didn’t return calls for comment. Steinbrenner refused to comment on Piazza through a spokesperson.
As spring training grows closer and Piazza’s options continue to dwindle, even his closest confidants have no idea where he’ll land.
San Diego and Philadelphia are options. When Lozano phoned the Yankees on Monday, it was communicated that the catcher had one current option: as a backup with the Phillies. But, reportedly, the Padres phoned Lozano to express interest.
Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi said that as of yesterday afternoon, Lozano hadn’t spoken to him in three weeks. Before that, Ricciardi hadn’t talked contract parameters with Lozano.
The Orioles and the Angels have been linked to Piazza, and Mets equipment manager Charlie Samuels recently told Carlos Beltran that Piazza was close to signing with an AL East team.
The most far-fetched possibility would be Japan, but most major-leaguers only head to the Far East after their careers have gone far south.
By most accounts, Piazza, who batted .251 last season with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs, can still hit major-league pitching, and he doesn’t need the yen.
Someone close to him said he doubted he would play in Japan, and a source from the Japan League said he also doubted Piazza would play there. He’d have to communicate with pitchers without knowing Japanese and try to hit them without having seen them before.
However, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, who have an opening at catcher since Kenji Johjima signed with Seattle, have strong financial backing. They reportedly offered Johjima $10 million, which is what Piazza initially was hoping for this winter.
