Fiddling, Star Cone May Burn Yankees

Wondering how much David Cone means to the Yankees? Aside from tying up a large portion of their payroll, the 32-year-old right-hander momentarily has frozen the club’s ability to pursue other free agents.

The Yankees did sign utility infielder Mariano Duncan, but he came relatively cheap at two years and $1.5 million. And they also were prepared to give Mickey Tettleton a two-year contract worth $6 million before he returned to the Texas Rangers late Sunday.

The bucks stopped there, however, until Cone picks a team. He is sitting on a three-year, $15 million offer from the Yankees as well as similar deals with the Baltimore Orioles and Florida Marlins. Cone has another meeting in Baltimore and New York before deciding his fate. Any decision, which should come by the end of this week, cannot come soon enough for the Yankees.

“We’re just waiting for David to come back to us,” Manager Joe Torre said. “He’s trying to make up his mind about what he has to do. He’s taking his time and I can appreciate that.”

Meanwhile, Torre and GM Bob Watson are inching forward in their efforts to improve the club. The trade for Tino Martinez and Jeff Nelson provided an immediate boost, but second baseman Roberto Alomar remains on hold as Craig Biggio continues to fade, and the pursuit of an outfielder/DH also has slowed to a crawl. Representatives for B.J. Surhoff and Tony Phillips have not spoken to the Yankees since last week as Watson’s mind remains focused on the mound.

Both Phillips and Surhoff are versatile, but Phillips’ ability to play second base is a bonus should a deal for either Alomar or Biggio fall through. The 37-year-old Phillips hit .261 with 27 home runs and 61 RBI last season for the Angels while pulling in a $4.3 million salary.

The left-handed-swinging Surhoff batted .320 with 13 home runs and 73 RBI in 1995, his best season in the majors, but might be inclined to rejoin the Brewers or opt for the Orioles or Marlins. Even so, his agent, Gregg Clifton, insists the Bronx-born Surhoff is seriously considering the Yankees if the talks progress past the initial conversations.

Meanwhile, Torre said that top prospect Derek Jeter will be the starting shortstop this season, bumping 12-year veteran Tony Fernandez into the backup role. Jeter hit .250 with seven RBI in 15 games for the Yankees last season.