YANK NOTES
BALTIMORE – Yankee GM Brian Cashman has his ears wide open, but hasn’t heard the right words to make a deal that could pull the Yankees out of the doldrums by acquiring a centerfielder or starting pitcher.
” ‘Tis the season of rumors galore,” Cashman said yesterday. “I am open to listening to anything and I have rejected a number of things. I don’t anticipate a move right now.”
With the Mike Cameron-Gary Sheffield deal off the table, the baseball grapevine had the Yankees exploring a deal for a catcher if they receive the right offer for Jorge Posada that would improve their centerfield situation or their rotation. Posada doesn’t have a no-trade clause. One name on their radar is San Diego’s Ramon Hernandez.
“There have been things that I could have done but didn’t do,” Cashman said. “What’s in front of me, I don’t want to do.”
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Kevin Brown’s first throwing session, a game of catch that consisted of 50 pitches at 90 feet yesterday in Tampa, went so well that Joe Torre said there is a chance Brown could start next Tuesday, the next time the Yanks need a fifth starter.
“He had no problem,” Torre said of the veteran righthander on the DL with a balky back. “With that being said, if he continues, it’s very realistic he could pitch July 5. He absolutely had no problems today.”
In other rehab news, Felix Rodriguez (knee) threw 61 pitches on a bullpen mound and ran from foul pole to foul pole 11 times. Jaret Wright (shoulder) took a day off from the throwing program and worked out in the weight room. Rey Sanchez (neck) is still limited to conditioning.
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Chien-Ming Wang said his wrapped right forearm wasn’t a problem and Torre didn’t anticipate the rookie righty missing his next start. Wang was hit on the arm by Brian Roberts Tuesday night in the first inning but lasted seven frames.
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Yanks elevated right-handed reliever Jason Anderson from Columbus (Triple-A) yesterday and sent outfielder Kevin Reese to the Clippers. With Tom Gordon unavailable last night after throwing two innings Tuesday, Torre wanted protection in the bullpen.
And with infielder Felix Escalona close to being back from a minor league injury, Anderson’s stay likely won’t be long.
