MINNEAPOLIS – If GM Brian Cashman gets an offer he likes from the Rangers for Esteban Loaiza, there is a strong chance George Steinbrenner will nix the deal.
“They have not come to me,” The Boss told The Post yesterday, one day after The Post reported the Yankees and Rangers have swapped names in a proposed deal. “And if they do I may not approve it. I haven’t seen enough of Loaiza.”
Cashman received a list of four Rangers minor leaguers to pick from in exchange for Loaiza, the struggling right-hander acquired from the White Sox for Jose Contreras on July 31. The Rangers asked this week about starter Jon Lieber and reliever Scot Proctor. Steinbrenner wasn’t asked his feelings about a possible deal for Lieber.
The Rangers are desperate for another starter since, after Ryan Drese and Kenny Rogers, they don’t have much as they try to win the AL West or cop the Wild Card bid. They are second to the A’s by one-half game in the division and were tied with the Red Sox in the Wild Card race.
Without knowing Steinbrenner’s position, the Rangers believed they had a “50-50” chance of landing Loaiza. The Rangers included Double-A infielder Jason Bourgeois, Triple-A utilityman Ramon Navar and Triple-A pitchers Ryan Snare and Sam Narron on the list for the Yankees to pick one or two.
“This is the season of rumors,” Cashman said. “I am not denying clubs are asking about our players.”
Steinbrenner’s faith in Loazia has to be akin to a horse player’s hunch, because the 32-year-old veteran hasn’t shown much in three starts in pinstripes. He won 21 games and was runner-up in the AL Cy Young race last year, but is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA as a Yankee and has allowed 23 hits and nine walks in 17 1/3 innings. Since he isn’t expected back next year and is a long shot to be part of the Yankees’ October roster, it makes sense to get something for him.
Loaiza, who is slated to start tomorrow against the Angels at Yankee Stadium, said he would be stunned if dealt.
“I am a Yankee. What else can I say?” Loaiza said. “I would be disappointed, but that’s baseball. I haven’t done a good job.”
Loaiza said trade talk was new to him.
“I haven’t heard anything,” Loaiza said. “I am just trying to do the best job possible.”