While the cost-cutting Marlins still are refusing to lower their asking price of Robinson Cano for Juan Pierre, they have begun to tell teams that every player on their roster - including Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera - is available for the right price.
The Yankees threw out the names of Cano and Chien-Ming Wang in passing as possibilities for Willis, the Marlins' dynamic lefthander, but the Marlins told them it would take a lot more than that, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
The Rangers are one of several teams talking to the Marlins about Pierre, which could benefit the Yankees. If the Rangers acquire Pierre, the Yankees would have interest in Gary Matthews Jr., whom they scouted extensively last July.
"If I had an obvious opportunity for centerfield, I would move quick, but I don't," Cashman said. " ... There are players available on the market who would be an upgrade for us, but we don't like their price tags, whether it's players traded or cost in dollars."
The Yankees have a meeting scheduled with agent Scott Boras today, and Johnny Damon's name most definitely will come up. The Yankees, however, do not plan to consider Damon until Boras agrees to drop his asking price of $84 million for seven years.
Cashman said he plans to speak to Boras mostly about Bernie Williams, whose future with the team could be decided by tomorrow. The Yankees have until tomorrow night to decide whether to offer arbitration to Williams, which would allow them to continue negotiating.
Because he made $12 million in 2005, the Yankees won't offer arbitration unless they know he will decline it, which teams and agents often agree upon ahead of time. A player's salary cannot be reduced by more than 20 percent through arbitration.
"Bernie would like to come back, there's no doubt about that," Cashman said. "Bernie mentioned that to me when we got eliminated out in Anaheim. And he knows it's not in an everyday capacity. Now we have to explore whether or not it makes sense given what the rest of the makeup of the club will be, which we're working through."
The Yankees are believed to have interest in righthanders Octavio Dotel, Julian Tavarez and Rick White and lefthanders Mike Myers and Ricardo Rincon for the bullpen. Dotel, coming off Tommy John surgery, is looking for a one-year, incentive-based deal. Lefthander Joey Eischen is expected to re-sign with the Nationals today.
Al Leiter is a possibility if he chooses to return instead of retiring, although his situation also is complicated by tomorrow's arbitration deadline. Leiter made $8 million last season.
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The Yankees threw out the names of Cano and Chien-Ming Wang in passing as possibilities for Willis, the Marlins' dynamic lefthander, but the Marlins told them it would take a lot more than that, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
The Rangers are one of several teams talking to the Marlins about Pierre, which could benefit the Yankees. If the Rangers acquire Pierre, the Yankees would have interest in Gary Matthews Jr., whom they scouted extensively last July.
"If I had an obvious opportunity for centerfield, I would move quick, but I don't," Cashman said. " ... There are players available on the market who would be an upgrade for us, but we don't like their price tags, whether it's players traded or cost in dollars."
The Yankees have a meeting scheduled with agent Scott Boras today, and Johnny Damon's name most definitely will come up. The Yankees, however, do not plan to consider Damon until Boras agrees to drop his asking price of $84 million for seven years.
Cashman said he plans to speak to Boras mostly about Bernie Williams, whose future with the team could be decided by tomorrow. The Yankees have until tomorrow night to decide whether to offer arbitration to Williams, which would allow them to continue negotiating.
Because he made $12 million in 2005, the Yankees won't offer arbitration unless they know he will decline it, which teams and agents often agree upon ahead of time. A player's salary cannot be reduced by more than 20 percent through arbitration.
"Bernie would like to come back, there's no doubt about that," Cashman said. "Bernie mentioned that to me when we got eliminated out in Anaheim. And he knows it's not in an everyday capacity. Now we have to explore whether or not it makes sense given what the rest of the makeup of the club will be, which we're working through."
The Yankees are believed to have interest in righthanders Octavio Dotel, Julian Tavarez and Rick White and lefthanders Mike Myers and Ricardo Rincon for the bullpen. Dotel, coming off Tommy John surgery, is looking for a one-year, incentive-based deal. Lefthander Joey Eischen is expected to re-sign with the Nationals today.
Al Leiter is a possibility if he chooses to return instead of retiring, although his situation also is complicated by tomorrow's arbitration deadline. Leiter made $8 million last season.
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