Yankees Looking To Add Zeal?

[Max Power]

Todd's a great guy. Torre loves him. But, Geez, the Yanks are turning into a Mets' Old Timers Day.

Yankees close to signing Zeile
By JOSH DUBOW
.c The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Todd Zeile and the New York Yankees are close to agreeing on a contract worth about $1.5 million.

General manager Brian Cashman said Saturday from baseball's winter meetings that he made an offer to Zeile's agents earlier this week.

``We approached this as a long shot,'' Cashman said. ``But we have a shot to make it happen. We still have some things to work out if it's going to get done. But I'm more optimistic about it than at the start of the process.''

A baseball source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the deal was almost completed. Zeile would also get performance bonuses in the contract, the source said.

Zeile would replace Ron Coomer as the Yankees' backup at third base and first base and would also get time as a right-handed designated hitter. Zeile's playing time could increase if the Yankees deal Nick Johnson to Montreal for one of the Expos' starting pitchers.

Zeile, who spent two years in New York as a Met, batted .273 with 18 homers and 87 RBIs for the Colorado Rockies last season.

Yankees manager Joe Torre is close to Zeile, having managed him in St. Louis. Cashman asked Torre for a report on Zeile and had the manager place a call to his former player earlier this week.

``I asked Joe about it and he thought it would be a terrific idea,'' Cashman said.

Zeile has been a full-time player most of his 14-year career but the Yankees were upfront with him, saying he wouldn't have a starting role.

But Cashman said the 37-year-old Zeile appeared interested in playing on a winning team for Torre. Zeile has a .268 career average with 233 homers and 1,033 RBIs.

After coming up as a catcher, Zeile has played most of his career at third base. The Mets, however, used him at first because they had Robin Ventura at third base. Zeile is very close to Ventura, who is with the Yankees now.

Cashman also talked with the agent for Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui on Saturday and was planning a second meeting with Montreal general manager Omar Minaya.

The Expos are looking to cut payroll and the Yankees are interested in pitchers Bartolo Colon and Javier Vazquez.

``We're a conversation or two from knowing whether we have a match or not on anything,'' Cashman said.

If the Yankees were able to acquire one of Montreal's pitchers, it might mean the end of Roger Clemens' career in pinstripes. Clemens is a free agent and the Yankees already have six starters under contract.

``He wants to stay and we'd like him to stay,'' Cashman said. ``Whether that happens remains to be seen.''

Cashman is under orders from owner George Steinbrenner to cut this year's payroll of about $135 million, by far the highest in the major leagues.

The Yankees estimate they will have to pay $55 million in revenue sharing and luxury tax next year, up from about $33 million they gave other teams this year.

But New York's rivals aren't counting on any major changes in the Yankees' approach.

``The Yankees are still awfully good,'' Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. ``Whether they cut payroll or not - I'll believe it when I see it.''

12/14/02 21:51 EST

[JamesI]

Why would the Yankees want Zeile? Of course if they do sign him, he'll probably have a career year.

[Max Power]

Originally posted by JamesI
Why would the Yankees want Zeile? Of course if they do sign him, he'll probably have a career year.

At 37, I doubt it. But, he takes a ton of pitches. He can play 3B and 1B. And, like I said, he's Torre's boy - - going back to 1991.

If Coomer kept himself in better shape, they would be about the same guy - in terms of what they could offer.

I wonder if Ventura had a hand in this, if it happens?

[JamesI]

My comment to his career year is based on whenever the Yanks sign someone I think is over the hill and done, they seem to have a much better year than I thought possible. Like Ventura last year.

[Max Power]

Originally posted by JamesI
My comment to his career year is based on whenever the Yanks sign someone I think is over the hill and done, they seem to have a much better year than I thought possible. Like Ventura last year.

For every Ventura, there's a Rondell White or a Ruben Sierra to offset it.

[JamesI]

Originally posted by Max Power
For every Ventura, there's a Rondell White or a Ruben Sierra to offset it.

Good point. I guess I thought Ventura was a bad move, and White a good move. Shows what I knew...

[Max Power]

Coomer only got to play twice a week. I wonder if Todd could do that and still produce? But, if they do trade Johnson, Todd would see a lot more action - close to 400 PA.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Zeile fills a void on the bench, and can serve as an emergency catcher. (A REALLY, REALLY BAD emergency catcher, I might add.)

It's a good signing IF Zeile will accept the role as a reserve.

[sweaver]

The Yankees have already signed Coomer to a contract, I believe. That would seem to make Zeile redundant.

[RichG]

Originally posted by Fuzzy Bear
Zeile fills a void on the bench, and can serve as an emergency catcher. (A REALLY, REALLY BAD emergency catcher, I might add.)

It's a good signing IF Zeile will accept the role as a reserve.

I thought the same thing about Zeile as the emergency catcher but I was surprised to see the last time he caught in the majors was 1990 That's a looong time between appearances.

[Max Power]

Yeah, he's more of an emergency OF now - than a C.

[WiredTiger]

Zeile would be cheap insurance at several positions. He can still hit a little and is probably worth the money to the Yanks.

[gyb13]

you sure about coomer, sweav?

heck, if we use johnson to get a colon, the yanks will be better despite the dropoff at dh

[b-ball-lunachik]

Another Yankee signing I don't like...Zeile spent all but one year or so in the NL and he's expected to adjust to AL pitching and becoming a bench player at the same time and some at bats at DH? ugh...Zeile is a nice enough guy but I didn't want him...

having Zeile though does make you think that Nick Johnson will be gone sooner rather than later -- it was inevitable when Giambi got the years he did with a no-trade but I figured they'd wait to get something they want for him...hopefully it's not before his trade value goes down...i do think it will be better for NJ to get to play first somewhere...

sweaver -- I think the deal with Coomer was the Yanks had an agreement with him they would offer him arbitration but he would turn it down if they signed Zeile -- something like that -- it's late. either way, he's not going to be a Yankee next year...

you may be thinking of Enrique Wilson -- he was re-signed by the Yanks for one year, $700,000.