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Yankee ingenuity Matsui, Bombers nearing agreement on three-year dealPosted: Wednesday December 18, 2002 7:15 PMUpdated: Wednesday December 18, 2002 11:19 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- Japanese star Hideki Matsui and the New York Yankees neared agreement Wednesday night on a three-year contract worth about $21 million. The Yankees, who had opened talks with free agent Cliff Floyd in an effort to gain bargaining power, made progress in talks Wednesday with Matsui's agent, Arn Tellem, according to a lawyer familiar with the negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The sides agreed on the basic structure of Matsui's salaries over the three years, the lawyer said, but had not agreed on possible performance bonuses or whether to include an option for a fourth season. Matsui, a three-time MVP of Japan's Central League for the Yomiuri Giants, would be a corner outfielder for the Yankees. Boston, Baltimore and the New York Mets also have expressed interest. Earlier in the day, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman would only characterize the talks with Matsui as ongoing. The Yankees' trade talks with Montreal for Bartolo Colon remained on hold, with New York refusing to make a proposal to the Expos. The team also contacted Cuban right-hander Jose Contreras immediately after he was granted free agency Wednesday, and it finalized a $1.5 million contract with backup infielder Todd Zeile. Montreal asked for pitcher Orlando Hernandez, first baseman Nick Johnson, outfielder Juan Rivera and several million dollars to pay Hernandez's salary. The Yankees refused to even make a counteroffer.
"If it makes sense, we're ready to rock 'n' roll, but it has to make sense in our context," said Cashman, who is trying to cut payroll. "It makes no sense to counter if I can't get him off where he's at. ... At this point they've set a bar, and they wanted to see if anybody would meet it. If not, adjustments will have to be made." Expos GM Omar Minaya, trying to play the Yankees against the Red Sox, asked Boston for pitcher Casey Fossum, third baseman Shea Hillenbrand and another player, and wanted to the Red Sox to take third baseman Fernando Tatis and his $6.25 million salary. "I continue to talk with clubs on a daily basis," Minaya said, "and I feel progress continues to be made with clubs that are interested in my players." New York also is negotiating with Roger Clemens, about 10 percent apart with agents Randy and Alan Hendricks on a one-year contract worth $8 million to $10 million. "I have had conversations with the Hendricks brothers concerning Roger since I left Tennessee, and I've had conversations with Montreal since I left Tennessee, as well," Cashman said. "I haven't gotten to a point where I'm in a position, based on our needs, to recommend something to our owner for his final decision on." Contreras, a right-hander who defected from Cuba in October, was in Nicaragua on Wednesday when the commissioner's office accepted his application for free agency. A Yankees' official quickly called to offer congratulations, and the team already has contacted agent Jaime Torres. Zeile, having passed his physical, was happy to be joining the Yankees, his 10th major league team. "One opportunity I had not yet had was to play in the pinstripes, which is something I've always fancied," he said. Zeile, 37, broke into the major leagues with St. Louis in 1989, and played for the Cardinals when Joe Torre was their manager. Zeile has been to the playoffs four times in 14 seasons, and his teams were eliminated by the Yankees in 1996 (Baltimore), 1998 and 1999 (Texas) and 2000 (the Mets). "Like they say, 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.' I said that jokingly to Joe, 'Get me over here so I have a chance to put a ring on my finger,'" Zeile said. He takes over the backup role held by Ron Coomer, who became a free agent. Zeile hit .273 with 18 homers and 87 RBIs for the Rockies last season. Zeile understands he probably won't play nearly as much for the Yankees, where he'll back up Robin Ventura at third and Jason Giambi at first. Coomer had 148 at-bats last year.
"The playing time will shake out to some degree on performance and to some degree on how the roster shakes out between now and April 1, and the health of the guys on the corners," Zeile said.
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