MLB NOTES
Bernie Williams’ future with the Yankees will be clearer by midnight, when the only club the popular switch-hitter has played for must offer him arbitration or lose him.
GM Brian Cashman met with Williams’ agent, Scott Boras, yesterday but nothing was resolved.
“We had discussions and we will have more,” Cashman said. “No results from that. I will talk to him again.”
The only way the Yankees, who have never said they do or don’t want Williams back as a bench player, will offer Williams arbitration is if he agrees not to accept it. If he did accept he would be a signed player and in line for a raise from the $12.4 million he earned last year, before the $3.5 million buyout he received when a $15 million option wasn’t picked up.
Even with Williams staying in the Wyndham Anatole while working out, Cashman didn’t believe it was necessary to meet with Williams.
“I don’t necessarily have to meet with Bernie, I can meet with Scott,” Cashman said. “I have the ability to meet with him because we are in the same locale, but I don’t necessarily have to meet him.”
Asked if the door is open for Williams to return as a reserve player, Cashman said, “We are still talking about that.”
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Al Leiter is another free agent who the Yankees have to decide to offer arbitration or not. Like Williams, they would only do it if the veteran lefty agrees not to accept, because Leiter would receive a raise from the $7.24 million he earned last season.
Cashman is toying with the idea of seeing if Leiter, 40, is interested in coming back as a lefty specialist, even if Cashman admitted the Yankees hadn’t seen enough of him in six regular-season relief appearances and four postseason games to know if he could do the job.
“He might be someone we would look at for that,” Cashman said. The Yankees are also talking to the Marlins about acquiring Ron Villone and have talked to free agent Mike Myers.
Left-handed hitters batted .250 (39-for-156) and right-handed hitters batted .294 (115-for-391) against Leiter this past season.
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Cashman dodged a question concerning his interest in veteran free-agent reliever Roberto Hernandez, who pitched effectively for the Mets last season.
“Nothing to report,” Cashman said.
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Agent Scott Shapiro refused to go into detail about his recent firing by Carl Pavano. Shapiro did say as long as Pavano pays him the commission during the next three years, there won’t be any lawsuits.
It’s believed Pavano let Shapiro go because the pitcher was told his contract was for four years and $40 million when it was actually $39.95 million.
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Eric Duncan, the Yankees’ No. 1 pick in 2003, was named the player of the year in the Arizona Fall League.
“He is one of our big chips that we get hit on a lot about,” Cashman said of the Seton Hall Prep product who will switch from third to first next season and make the jump from Double-A to Triple-A. “He is a valuable asset for the future whether he is with us or somebody else remains to be seen.”
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Veteran reliever Jeff Nelson talked to Cashman about a possible third stint in the Yankees bullpen. Nelson is also interested in pitching for the Mets and Dodgers. … The Phillies are talking to the Dodgers about trading third baseman David Bell. … The Blue Jays, A’s, Twins and Orioles are all interested in Mike Piazza.
– with Mark Hale
