YANKEE NOTES
DENVER – The Marlins have initiated steps toward dealing hard-hitting outfielder Cliff Floyd and have focused on what the Yankees have to offer.
According to several sources the Marlins have assigned scouts to cover Columbus (Triple-A) and Norwich (Double-A), the Yankees’ top farm teams.
The Marlins’ move comes at a time when the Yankees’ best prospects are injured. Left-hander Brandon Claussen was examined by Dr. Allen Miller yesterday in Tampa and will undergo Tommy John surgery on his left elbow Tuesday. Dr. James Andrews will perform the surgery. Outfielder Juan Rivera is on the DL with a fractured kneecap.
Floyd, 29, has been the Yankees’ top priority since the middle of April when they believed the right-field platoon of Shane Spencer and John Vander Wal wasn’t going to be productive enough. Lately they have had questions about left fielder Rondell White’s injured left middle finger.
They let the Marlins know of their interest early and were told the Marlins weren’t moving Floyd until they fell out of the race. While they started last night’s action in third place behind the NL East-leading Braves, 5½ games out, the Marlins are making plans to unload the free-agent-to-be who makes $6.5 million.
“This thing is heating up,” a source said of the Marlins’ efforts to deal Floyd, who started last night’s action hitting .282 with 14 homers and 43 RBIs.
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Sterling Hitchcock declared himself available for yesterday’s game after Joe Torre said the veteran lefty couldn’t have pitched the last three tilts because of a back problem. The problem isn’t related to the injury that forced Hitchcock to the DL at the start of the season.
“This is more of a spasm and a little bit higher,” Hitchcock said after playing catch. “That was more structural.”
Hitchcock said the problem surfaced after a June 10 start at Yankee Stadium against the Diamondbacks when he gave up four runs and seven hits in 4 innings. He pitched in relief last Friday and Saturday at Shea but the problem forced him out of action since then.
“I saw [Colorado’s] team chiropractor [Shawn Caldwell] the last two days and it has helped quite a bit,” Hitchcock said.
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Jason Giambi’s throwing problems aren’t something the Yankees didn’t know about when they signed him to a seven-year deal worth $120 million.
“We knew he had good hands and we knew his throwing was inconsistent,” Torre said of Giambi, whose two errors – one throwing and another fielding – accounted for five unearned runs in Wednesday night’s 20-10 win. “Nothing has developed since he has been here.”
Giambi has three errors this year but often his throws to second on force plays or pickoffs have been wide, high or low. And there have been times when Giambi has looked reluctant to throw to second.
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Mariano Rivera tested his strained right groin by throwing on flat surface yesterday and will throw off a mound today in San Diego.
Rivera may throw a bullpen session before he comes off the DL. He is eligible Tuesday, a day off for the Yankees.
