Add another chapter to the fierce Red Sox-Yankees rivalry.
And this could easily be the most expensive one in the long history between the AL clubs that began when Babe Ruth was sold from the Red Sox to the Yankees.
Less than two years after the Red Sox courted Bernie Williams and forced George Steinbrenner to drop $20 million more than he wanted on the All-Star center fielder to remain in The Bronx for $87.5 million, the Red Sox again are a very large stone in The Boss’ shoe.
This time, they are seriously interested in acquiring Sammy Sosa, a home-run hitting machine and box-office draw Steinbrenner has wanted for the past two years but until now had no chance of getting because this is the first time the Cubs have put him on the block.
And according to talent evaluators, the Bosox have the young studs to make the Cubs listen when they get around to dealing Sosa, who desperately wants to leave the Cubs.
Asked about Sosa yesterday afternoon, Steinbrenner refused comment. Later, after the Bombers’ 5-3 loss to the Red Sox, Steinbrenner was asked if they Yankees are going to make any moves. “What do you think? Go talk to the manager and the general manager,” Steinbrenner said as he boarded an elevator. “We better do something, don’t you think?”
Steinbrenner instructed his inner circle on May 22 to see what it would take to get Sosa.
Since then, the Yankees have been in constant contact with the Cubs and agent Tom Reich, who has a very strong relationship with Steinbrenner.
Yesterday didn’t bring new developments as the Yankees continues to scout the Cubs and Tigers – remember, Detroit is expected to deal Juan Gonzalez – and the Cubs and Tigers are looking at all levels of the Yankee system.
Ken Kravec, a special assistant to Cub GM Ed Lynch, was at The Stadium for the second straight game last night. He has also scouted Drew Henson at Norwich (Double-A).
The Yankees’ can offer the Cubs higher-profile names such as Alfonso Soriano, Ricky Ledee, Shane Spencer, Jackson Melian and Henson, a player the Cubs would insist be included in any deal.
The Cubs also have strong interest in Adrian Hernandez, the Cuban defector who’s pitching in Norwich.
The Red Sox’ stable is just as strong, if not as well known. Considering the Cubs are trading an outfielder, they would want Trot Nixon from the Red Sox. After that, industry sources list the Red Sox top prospects as right-handers Tomokazu Ohka, Sun-Woo Kim, Jin Ho Cho, first baseman Dernell Stenson and catcher Steve Lomasney.
And if the Red Sox getting into play isn’t enough to get Steinbrenner’s competitive juices flowing, the third team in the Sosa Sweepstakes is the Mets.
The Mets’ most attractive chips are Double-A outfielder Alex Escobar, Triple-A right-hander Grant Roberts and Single-A pitcher Pat Strange.
After the prospects, there is the matter of satisfying Sosa’s wishes to be the highest-paid player in the game. Signed for next year at $11 million, figure Sosa will be looking for an extension in the $16 to $18 million range for five years. As a 10 & 5 player, Sosa can veto any deal, and wont’ give his approval unless he receives an extension.
Of course, the Mets and Red Sox could be in it solely to drive the price up on Steinbrenner, who still fumes at the Expos not accepting his package for Pedro Martinez and dealing the best pitcher in the world to the Red Sox.
Not having talked to Steinbrenner in almost five weeks, manager Joe Torre and the Boss chatted yesterday afternoon in Torre’s office.
“The name was mentioned,” Torre said of Sosa, who said yesterday in Chicago that he wants no part of DH-ing.
That’s a role Torre hinted on Monday that Sosa could fill for the Yankees, who have received inconsistent production from Spencer and Ledee so far.
Judging by the front office’s interest in improving the club, something Steinbrenner desperately wants to do since he wants to make the team as attractive as possible while he develops a super sports television station or bluffs Cablevision into a monster deal for the Yankees to re-up with MSG, you would never know the Yankees started last night’s action one game ahead of the Red Sox in the AL East.
Admitting they talk about upgrades “every day” Torre isn’t sure what his biggest need is. However, what the Yankees receive will be dictated by the market.
“You never have enough pitching,” said Torre, who believes solid arms are the best way to success. “Pitching is the biggest scarcity, but there may be a player out there who fits in the lineup. We may have a [better] chance to come away with a quality player than a quality pitcher.”
Because Sosa has dominated the newspapers the past few days, Gonzalez’ name has been pushed to the back burner. But there are those in the Yankee organization who believe the Tigers’ right fielder is a better player than Sosa, who has deteriorated in the field and no longer a good base-runner.
However, The Boss has long been enamored with stars and home-run hitters. With Mark McGwire not available, that leaves Sosa for The Boss.