YANKEE NOTES
David Cone is convinced if given another chance by the Yankees, he can erase the nightmare of last year when the border line Hall of Famer went 4-14 with a 6.91 ERA.
Told by the Yankees to wait while they chase Mike Mussina and other pitchers, and that the best they could probably do would be a minor-league deal with incentives that would only reach $1 million, Cone didn’t flinch.
“Just get me in camp,” Cone told a club representative. “If I can’t do it, I will walk away.”
After making $12 million a year ago when he produced the worst season of his career, it’s not about money for Cone, who will be 38 on New Year’s Day.
If Mussina isn’t signed, the Yankees will see what second-tier free agents Denny Neagle, Darren Dreifort and Kevin Appier will command. And they could ask what the Rockies want for Pedro Astacio. No matter what, Cone would be cast in the role of No. 5 starter, a spot the Yankees have in mind for Adrian “El Duquecito” Hernandez.
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Between returning from a vacation in Italy and the start of spring training, Chuck Knoblauch can plan on talking with Joe Torre.
“That’s a very key spot for us,” Torre said of his leadoff hitter/second baseman who was reduced to a DH in the postseason. “To have him come back with a clear mind. I have not talked to him, but I will. The biggest problems I thought, in spite of the physical problems with his arm, was the mental part. That’s my opinion but I am not in his body.”
While the Yankees have let it be known they would listen to offers for Knoblauch, Torre believes Knoblauch can bounce back.
“Because he is young,” Torre said of the 32-year-old Knoblauch. “The throwing problems caused a lot of the emotional problems. It looked like it was stressing him out.”
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While they haven’t shut the door in Jeff Nelson’s face after he rejected a three-year, $9 million deal, the Yankees are looking for right-handed bullpen help.
Greg Clifton, the agent for Mets reliever Turk Wendell is waiting on an offer from the Yankees. The Mets have offered Wendell a three-year contract worth $6.6 million and the Cubs have put a three-year, $8 million pact on the table.
The Yankees were among 14 teams in Tempe yesterday to watch Tom “Flash” Gordon throw. Gordon had ligament transplant surgery on his right elbow 11 months ago and missed all of last year. It was the second time in two weeks the Yankees sent Damon Oppenheimer to see Gordon.
“He threw about 40 pitches and he looked all right,” a scout said.
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Yankees will announce the signing of catcher Joe Oliver to a one-year, $1.25 million contract today and are on the verge of signing utility infielder Luis Sojo to a one-year deal close to $800,000 after Jose Vizcaino inked a one-year pact worth $1.5 million with the Astros.
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Saying they needed to make room on the 40-man roster for younger players, the Yankees placed right-handed reliever Jason Grimsley on waivers for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release yesterday.
The club told agent Joe Bick it was still interested in a working out a minor league deal with Grimsley.
“Obviously, we have to explore other options first, but we aren’t closing the door there yet,” Bick said.
Torre said yesterday that pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre will return to the club next year. Stottlemyre left the team in mid-September to undergo a stem cell transplant in his battle against bone cancer.
“He looks good and the most important thing is that he feels good,” Torre said of Stottlemyre.
Torre also “has a feeling” bench coach Don Zimmer will return.