Yankees looking for more at Winter Meetings

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 12/3/2013 10:00 A.M. ET

NEW YORK -- When the Yankees gathered for their organizational meetings back in November, it was no secret that they would find a lot of holes to fill. It has been a mild surprise, however, how quickly they were able to begin moving the needle.

The Yankees have already made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason, agreeing to terms on a five-year contract with free-agent catcher Brian McCann. With the Winter Meetings approaching, there is much more on their shopping list.

General manager Brian Cashman and a contingent of Yankees executives will be on site at the Meetings, which kick off on Dec. 9 at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Executives around the game expect the Yankees to attempt to continue their spending ways.

"I think I'm actively looking to improve all aspects of the club," Cashman said recently.

Second baseman Robinson Cano continues to be a top priority for the Yankees, but there has only been minimal movement between the two sides; the club was waiting for Cano to budge off his request for a 10-year deal worth in excess of $300 million, which he reportedly now has.

There is still believed to be a considerable gap between Cano and the Yankees, who are believed to have offered a seven-year deal worth approximately $160 million to $170 million. That could change during the Winter Meetings, with Cano's baseball representative Brodie Van Wagenen expected to be on site.

"Listen, I'd rather he not be a free agent and I'd rather that he be securely tucked away as our second baseman," Cashman said. "That's what our effort will be this winter, but I can't predict what will happen."

In the meantime, the Yankees have held true to their word that they would move on with other needs, with or without Cano. Their five-year, $85 million pact with McCann filled a serious need for power behind the plate, where four Yankees catchers combined to slug a big league-low eight home runs in 2013.

Free-agent outfielder Carlos Beltran is also high on the wish list, as Cashman is not satisfied with a current outfield that includes Brett Gardner, Alfonso Soriano, Vernon Wells and Ichiro Suzuki. The Yankees are thought to be amenable to a two-year contract with the 37-year-old Beltran, but they are hesitant to commit to a third year.

If a dollar figure can be reached -- Beltran will want a raise over the $14 million he earned this past season -- they envision Beltran sliding into right field and serving as a part-time designated hitter. He would effectively replace Curtis Granderson, another free agent whom the Yankees have not completely closed the door on.

The Yankees also need pitching, with only CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova scribbled in as locks for next year's rotation. Cashman said that he needs to add 400 innings to the rotation, and is very interested in re-signing Hiroki Kuroda if the right-hander chooses to pitch in 2014. There have been indications that movement may soon come on that front.

Japanese standout Masahiro Tanaka also continues to be a target of the Yankees, though there is uncertainty about when his posting process will be resolved. It may take until January for Tanaka to actually become available, though that could coincide with a final ruling concerning Alex Rodriguez's appeal of a 211-game suspension.

As of now, Cashman has said that the Yankees are planning their budget as though Rodriguez's salary is on the books. Thus, Rodriguez's suspension could potentially free upwards of $25 million, though it would force Cashman to continue looking to upgrade the left side of the infield.

They are known to have had some level of interest in free-agent infielder Stephen Drew, who would provide additional support even with Derek Jeter and Brendan Ryan already projected to be in the fold. Perhaps Mark Reynolds, who finished the year with the Yankees, could be an appealing replacement for Rodriguez.

The Yankees have also flirted with Shin-Soo Choo and Jacoby Ellsbury, though Beltran remains more appealing because of the club's preference for a shorter-term commitment.

David Robertson is in line to replace Mariano Rivera as the closer, but that is not guaranteed; the Yankees have kicked the tires on free-agent relievers Joe Nathan and Grant Balfour, and Cashman said that he would love to keep free-agent lefty Boone Logan.

Expect to see the Yankees attached to several more bold-faced names as the Winter Meetings approach. Cashman generally adheres to the thought process of "nothing ventured, nothing gained," knocking on many doors in the hopes of finding a match that makes sense for the club.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Yankees looking for more at Winter Meetings

Dengan url

http://sehatbuahku.blogspot.com/2013/12/yankees-looking-for-more-at-winter.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Yankees looking for more at Winter Meetings

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Yankees looking for more at Winter Meetings

sebagai sumbernya