Jim Abbott Still Interests Yankees

The Yankees rejected a proposed trade for Angel left-hander Jim Abbott last weekend, although both sides say a deal is still possible. It is believed the declined proposal featured Yankees first base prospect J.T. Snow plus one of their top three pitching prospects: Mark Hutton, Sterling Hitchcock or Sam Militello.

While Angel General Manager Whitey Herzog originally set last Monday as a deadline for an Abbott deal, Angel vice president Dan O’Brien said they’re “still talking” to the Yankees about the 25-year-old 1991 All-Star. O’Brien also said their inability to consummate a deal before the clubs submitted expansion-protection lists Monday as Herzog had hoped, “did not dampen a thing.”

That seems true, too, for the Yankees, for whom the acquisition of Abbott could be the key to their winter. If they could obtain Abbott, viewed by some as a potential No. 1 pitcher, they could use their free-agent money to pursue Barry Bonds rather than having to use it for a No. 1 free-agent starter such as David Cone.

But in their Abbott chase, the Yankees appear to be keeping a tight grip on their top prospects. Weeks ago, they told Herzog center fielder Bernie Williams is off-limits. And despite differing opinions on Pat Kelly, they seem unwilling to part with him, too. The key now appears to be agreement on pitching prospects.

“We don’t want to be overzealous or jump in just because it’s Jim Abbott,” Yankees vice president Brian Sabean said. “He’s a very good pitcher, but there are downsides.”

Sabean, who was not willing to divulge the Yankees involved, also said of the decision to reject the Angels’ latest proposal: “The vote wasn’t even close.”

Although the Yankees have targeted Abbott, they fear the possibility of losing him as a free agent after two years. They also do not relish the prospect of negotiating with Abbott’s agent, Scott Boras, who got $1.55 million for high school pitcher Brien Taylor and who rejected the Angels’ $16-million, four-year offer to Abbott.

What the Yankees fear most is losing their best prospects, repeating past debacles such as the Hal Morris-for-Tim Leary trade. They are much more protective of their youth than they have been in the past.

Snow, who hit .313 at Columbus and could fill a gaping hole for the Angels, almost certainly would have to be included. However, the Yankees are reluctant to part with Militello, Hutton or Hitchcock, too.

It is believed they would rather package Snow, who disappointed the Yankees by declining their requests to play winter ball in Venezuela, with a next-tier pitching prospect such as Bob Wickman, Russ Springer or Roberto Munoz.

One club source, asked whether Kelly might be included too, responded emphatically, “No, no and no.” And Sabean said, “Nobody at this kid’s age can do the things he can do defensively.”

Working against the Yankees is Toronto’s keen interest in Abbott. Blue Jays mentioned as trade bait include catcher Ed Sprague, pitcher Todd Stottlemyre, outfielder Derek Bell and infielder Domingo Martinez.

One thing working in the Yankees’ favor is the glut of quality free-agent pitchers available, including Cone, Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux, Greg Swindell and Doug Drabek.

“Regardless of Abbott’s ability, there are a lot of free-agent pitchers out there,” Sabean said. “If we sign a free agent, we only have to give up a second-round (draft) pick. We’d be reluctant to give up young pitchers because of the opportunity to go into the free-agent market.”