I reached out to a handful of agents for an update on their clients before breaking for Thanksgiving and here's where they're all at. Obviously this isn't a complete list of players the Yankees may be interested right now; rather, I'm just trying to let you guys (and gals) in on any little tidbit I hear, even if it doesn't make the newspaper.
Ted Lilly
Agent Larry O'Brien reports in an e-mail that the Yankees have not given them an offer just yet, and says, "If they are truly serious I would imagine that we may make some progress at the Winter Meetings. We do not have a self-imposed time frame to make a deal but I would hope that we have a much clearer picture by the Winter Meetings." You might have noticed that most of the signings thus far have been position players; with the pitchers, it seems everyone is waiting for the first big contract to set the market.
Rich Aurilia
Agent Barry Axelrod described his talks with the Yankees as "exploratory" and "preliminary," saying they have not discussed years and money. 
Axelrod added that Brian Cashman told him Aurilia could be a fit for their righthanded-hitting first base vacancy or as a utility player. But Axelrod got the sense the Yankees were tending to other business first. Whether that means they're looking at other first basemen before Aurilia, he could not say. One thing to keep in mind about Aurilia -- he's a Type A free agent, so it's likely interested teams will wait until after the Dec. 1 deadline to offer arbitration before getting serious. This way, if the Reds don't offer arbitration as expected, teams won't have to give up a first round pick to sign him. And while Aurilia went to the same college as I did, I have to say, he is not worth a few million AND a first-round pick.
Shea Hillenbrand
Hillenbrand is represented by Danny Lozano of the Beverly Hills Sports Council, and Lozano was telling people late last week that they were taking the weekend to evaluate their situation and expected to start moving forward again on Monday.
Gregg Zaun
Zaun is acting as his own agent, Gary Sheffield style, and I have been unable to reach him thus far. But it seems from reading the Toronto papers his first choice is to return to Toronto for a two-year contract. They are reportedly apart on money, but his sights seem bigger than backing up for the Yankees. He told The Toronto Star earlier this week that three teams are interested in his services as a starter.
Comments (11)
If, I was BC. My efforts would be toward Lilly and Hillenbrand. If, there is a stumbling point walk away. There are plenty of options from within at pitcher. Let Phillips or Duncan play first base. The pricing for mediocrity is getting out of control especially pitchers.
Rich Aurilia is a Type A free agent? I thought Type A free agents were the top-of-the-line guys, like a Soriano...
Maybe I could be a Type B, then. My dog, too.
why dont you guys go after zito?? hes the best one out there and who cares if he wants that much money hes worth that much and he is a good fit for the yankees. or are you just gonna leave him out there and let teams like boston or toronto or baltimore or the mets or teams like that pick him up and then do better than you guys.
trade randy johnson
he sucks and hes aaist of money
Dear Anonymous-
If you can find a market for a 43 year old pitcher with two bad seasons in a row, a bad disposition and a bad back to boot, by all means arrange a trade.
Hey I know! Why don't we package RJ and Pavano for Dontrelle Willis? Yeah, that's it! Who wouldn't make that trade? Get a grip please, RJ isn't going anywhere w/ that contract and back.
randy's been better than "bad" for the yanks, having won 17 games two years in a row. sure, he's stunk in the playoffs, and that's painful, but i give him some points for taking the ball every fifth day for virtually every start in 05-06 while some younger pitchers were picking their feet in poughkeepsie (to quote gene hackman).
Johnson won 17 games because he got incredible run support last year. He had a 5 ERA. If you won't accept "bad", how about not very good at all?
thats a mad good idea to trade johnson and pavono for willis!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pavano threw 5 pitches with the yankees and got a sat out bc he got a blister
hes a little bitch.we need a guy like willis hes young and hes awesome and maybe the marlins would do that since they need more pithcing and that willis came off a bad season.
the only bad thing is it will be willis firts time in the AL but i think a guy like willis could handle the pressure in the AL and in new york.
wow well be great if we get another 2 guys.
willis
zito
mussina
wang
lilly
thats just beast write there who can beat us?!!!
then just get a back up C and a 1B
Gregg Zuan
and
Shea Hillenbrand
for the bullpen keep procter and incase any one gets injured we alwayz have him or people like sanchez, karstnes, rasner, and other people to back up.
another good idea is for the bullpen throw in bruney! he did awesome last year and he can develop to become the future closer when the great mo retires.
write back MR. C and plase try to do that trade with florida and if you do try to sign lilly and zito and hillendbrand and zaun.
if you get zito he wont be a waist of money bc hes a good fit for ny and he wants to be here so hell pitch better in pinstripe uniforms. he wont be a waist of money like pavono and rj bc we will give him as much run support as we can and you have to talk to the team about that and your coaching.
my mom sais when im older i should be a manager or a coach because mostly all i ever talk about is the yankees and who they should get.
now its your turn the NL already struck now you should get it fired up with a contract for zito then lilly, then hillenbrand, then zaun , then the trade for willis
trust me on this one and if you guys win the WS i am going to be a manager someday!
just please do all of this and well finally have the perfect team.
damon
jeter
abreu
a rod
giambi
matsui
posada
hillenbrand
cano
rotation
willis
zito
moose
wang
lilly
bullpn
mo
farnsworth
dotel
myers
procter
bruney
backups
inf-phillips
inf-cairo
of-williams
of-melky
c-zaun
what can i say about that team tight there ummm its kill!
kerouac
Yeah, you're right, he's "stunk" in the playoffs. And that is the whole point. He was traded for, and got his contract extension, and paid $17 mil a year to win in the post season. Who's not keeping their end of the bargain?
Jim A
Great call, I know Florida would love to make that deal. Hell, who wouldn't? Johnson AND Pavano for a stiff like Willis?
if i was BC the first thing i would do is go after zito! i know a lot of people thinks hes a waist but he really isnt a waist for the yankees.
he actually wants to play here unlike johnson who just said "what the hell" he will do awesome as a yankee i know he will.
he could be #2 if we trade johnson and pavono for willis which was my idea, i forgot to put the name.then we'll do awesome if we get one more starter like lilly, pettitte which will probably be 4 or 5 in the rotation.
willis-zito-moose-wang-lilly or pettite-wang
the only thing i can say about the is BBBBBBBBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
BEAST
Let's just think about pitching. We need a top of the rotation pitcher and one more starter. We must be built for the playoffs.
It's hard to believe we cannot find a home grown back up catcher and someone to play first base. Are we giving up on Andy Phillips?
Let's cut the payroll and get younger.