Fans Still Wait for Yankees

The New York Yankees were supposed to be better organized, more decisive and more determined this winter. Their fans are still waiting.

So far there have been no trades and no free-agent signings but a lot of confusion. The most notable player move thus far was canceling free-agent third baseman Steve Buechele’s trip to tour New Jersey.

Things have gotten so mucked up in the Bronx people are speculating that George Steinbrenner must somehow be plotting it all behind the scenes. And that’s people within the Yankees’ own front office.

Perhaps the Yankees can start their comeback at the winter meetings, which begin this weekend in Miami. General Manager Gene Michael hopes to pick his spirits up there when these key questions may or may not be answered:

--Will they acquire and sign Barry Bonds?

Of course, this is the longshot of all winter-meeting longshots. Besides Bonds’ probable asking price -- between $30 million and $35 million -- and the Yankees’ lack of marketable players, there is also the problem of time management. Consider the Pittsburgh Pirates’ desire to deal him quickly and this comment from chief operating officer Leonard Kleinman regarding the Yankees’ Bonds strategy: “This is something that will probably continue to be discussed for a long time to come.”

--Will the Yankees finally sign a free agent?

For a long time, Michael seemed to be operating under the assumption that somehow the Yankees’ $43 million-a-year TV deal could buy a free agent or two. Now, it doesn’t look that way.

“We’re going to look at other areas,” Michael said. “We’re going to look at trade possibilities.”

Michael’s task will not be easy. As one club source said, “Every time somebody calls, they ask for Roberto Kelly. There’s nobody else anybody wants.”

That makes things doubly difficult since the Yankees like the multi-talented Kelly. Manager Buck Showalter said, “I’d be very hesitant to trade Roberto at this point. He’s got a chance to be the guy we hang our hats on. The only way to do it is to get two solid guys, and I don’t think anybody is willing to do it.”

--Will they get the third baseman they need?

The wait goes on, and Showalter must be getting nervous. “Third base is certainly one area that jumps out,” Showalter said. “We certainly haven’t had a whole lot of production there.” The 38 RBI and 37 errors produced there last year are ugly numbers.

Buechele is the one Michael wants but his bosses’ unwillingness to commit cash has led him to greatly expand the roster of possibilities. The Yankees have discussed deals for the California Angels’ Gary Gaetti and the Kansas City Royals’ Kevin Seitzer, both fading veterans. They also have considered acquiring New York Mets backup first baseman Dave Magadan and playing him at third to fill their problem position. A Gaetti-for-Steve Sax swap is possible since they have comparatively large contracts (Gaetti $11.4 million, Sax $12.4 million).

--Will they get the starting pitchers they need?

As their luck would have it, the Yankees reportedly had been talking to the Cleveland Indians about Greg Swindell and the Cincinnati Reds about Scott Scudder. Well, of course, they were eventually traded for each other.

Luckily, there are still plenty of top-quality starters on the market, such as California’s Chuck Finley, Kansas City’s Tom Gordon and Kevin Appier, and the Seattle Mariners’ Erik Hanson. A deal sending Sax, Jesse Barfield and a prospect for Finley has been rumored. And if they decide later to go after free agents, there is some interest in Rick Sutcliffe and former Met Ron Darling.

The Yankees also are not enamored with shortstop Alvaro Espinoza’s offensive production and may make a run at free agent Kurt Stillwell. “And we could use another run-producer,” Showalter added.