YANKEE NOTES

According to baseball sources, if Cuban Kendry Morales sticks to his demands for a major-league contract worth between $10 million and $15 million, he won’t be signed by the Yankees.

Never cheap when it comes to international talent (think Jose Contreras, $32 million), the Yankees don’t view the 21-year-old switch-hitter as a player worth that type of money.

Morales’ agent, David Valdes, didn’t return repeated phone calls to discuss what his client is looking for.

Yankees talent evaluators Damon Oppenheimer, Lin Garrett, Rick Down and Gordon Blakeley have seen Morales in the Dominican Republic. Nobody dismissed Morales immediately, but nobody was willing to recommend to George Steinbrenner that he be signed for that much and take up a spot on the 40-man roster.

However, if Morales can’t get what he wants – in this market it’s unlikely he will get $10-15 million – the Yankees certainly would be interested.

Other teams who have seen Morales work out recently in the Dominican Republic are the Mets, Red Sox, White Sox, Marlins and Rockies. Morales gave the Mets a private audition at their facility in the Dominican.

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Joe Torre couldn’t put a date on when Kevin Brown will throw in the bullpen for the first time since breaking his left hand Friday night. Torre said, “Hopefully before we leave [we’ll] find out what the situation is.”

Because the Yankees head for Baltimore after tonight’s game, that means Brown could throw today. He was expected to miss at least three weeks following surgery to insert a pin in the wrist, and he could be out for the season.

The Yankees continue to look into the situation and could fine Brown for his childish actions or look to dock some of his $15 million contract for next year if he doesn’t return this season.

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The first game of Jason Giambi‘s rehab stint with Columbus (Triple-A) was washed out last night when the Richmond-Clippers International League playoff game was rained out in Ohio.