SARASOTA – David Wells and the Blue Jays have opened negotiations into a contract extension. The likelihood is that if the money gets to the three-year, $24 million range, the flaky lefty will accept as he nears his 36th birthday.

But know that Wells stays in touch with a good friend named George Steinbrenner, stopping by Legends Field occasionally, including recently to pick up NCAA Final Four tickets from The Boss. Wells can demand a trade after this season if Toronto simply attempts to pick up his option for 2000.

That means, without an extension, Wells can be either a free agent or have his option picked up and be traded. Either way, he still tells friends he would love to return to the Yankees.

“That won’t happen from a business point of view,” Wells’ representative, Gregg Clifton, said.

But that was under the proviso Wells would be offered an extension that would “keep him from rolling the dice” to get back to the Yanks.

Clifton was scheduled to speak to Blue Jay GM Gord Ash again yesterday. Toronto’s intentions are indeed to keep Wells rather than deal him as was anticipated when the Blue Jays first obtained him for Roger Clemens.

However, if a pact cannot be worked out, the possibilities grow. The Yanks know Wells is a lefty who has proved he can pitch in both New York and the postseason.

It’s unlikely Joe Torre would favor reacquiring a pitcher he did not mind sending away due to an off-beat nature. Steinbrenner, though, continues to pledge his affection for Wells.

Could Wells finally be the item that brings friction to the Steinbrenner-Torre relationship?

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KEN GRIFFEY rejected a seven-year, $110 million offer from Seattle this spring, a source told The Post. It was not merely the money, which would have made the star center fielder the highest-paid player in the sport ahead of the Dodgers’ Kevin Brown (seven years, $105 million).

Griffey has told Seattle management he wants assurance the club is committed to winning. An indicator how the Griffey talks will go, therefore, could be determined this week. Jeff Fassero and Jamie Moyer, the club’s top starters, are both free agents after this season. Their reps have told the club to sign their clients by the time the season begins or else negotiations must cease. So far progress has been slow, which is why Fassero-to-the-Mets rumors continue.

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YANKEES turned down a potential deal of D’Angelo Jimenez to Anaheim for Phil Nevin, a utility player who can catch. Nevin was instead traded Monday to San Diego.

Yanks believe that when they have raised pressure on Hideki Irabu before he has responded, such as when they leaked trade rumors about him to Seattle for Randy Johnson midway through last season. Irabu responded with a terrific game in Seattle. So, disappointed with Irabu’s attitude, the Yanks have raised the pressure again, hoping he will respond tomorrow in his final spring start.

The club does not want to make a hasty decision on Irabu. In the last week, the Yanks have faced Philadelphia’s No. 2 starter (Chad Ogea) and Detroit’s No. 3 starter (Willie Blair) and both were horrible. Irabu is much more talented than either pitcher and is only being asked to be the Yanks’ No. 5 starter. They feel if they can just get his best effort they will have the kind of fifth starter no one else has.

Lefty starter Randy Keisler, a second-round pick out of LSU last year, has been the talk of the Yankee minor league camp, drawing comparisons stuff wise to Wells. That is good for the organization, which has a lack of quality southpaws. Keisler is expected to begin at Single-A this season.

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MILWAUKEE second baseman Fernando Vina remains one of the most shopped players this spring. He has built animosity, though, within his organization. He has publicly stated he wants to know his status, comparing himself to construction workers and McDonald’s employees. Except no McDonald’s employee is due $3.85 million the next two seasons and none turned down a three-year, $13 million extension beyond that by demanding between $5-6 million annually.

The Brewers, meanwhile, continue to overprice Vina in trade talks, asking St. Louis for top pitching prospects Rich Ankiel and Jose Jimenez, and the Reds for Pete Harnisch, Denny Neagle or Brett Tomko.

Toronto might deal a starter, probably Pat Hentgen, to Detroit for an outfielder, possibly Bobby Higginson.

There is a belief Hideo Nomo will end up in the AL, maybe with Detroit, because that league is unfamiliar with his windup. But watch for the Giants. In four career starts at 3Com Park, Nomo is 3-0 with a 1.16 ERA and a .091 batting average against.

Keep an eye on Red prospect Scott Williamson, who has gone from non-roster to part of the closer picture with stuff that some in the organization are comparing to Trevor Hoffman’s. The Yankees asked about his availability yesterday and were told “no way” by the Reds. Kris Benson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft, has pitched so well this spring that he is expected to make the Pirate rotation with Chris Peters being shifted to the pen.

Kevin McGlinchy, the Braves’ 21-year-old closer-of-the-future, has impressed enough that he is likely to make the Brave pen.