Like It or Not, Yankees Add Canseco

One way to look at it is the score is $112.6 million.

That’s the New York Yankees’ payroll with the addition Monday of Jose Canseco, acquired on waivers from Tampa Bay.

Another way to look at it is the score was 8-5.

That was the result after a grand slam by Carlos Guillen and home runs by Alex Rodriguez and Jay Buhner in Seattle’s victory that ended a series in which the Mariners won the last three games and outscored the Yankees, 25-11, in doing so.

But the loss to Seattle paled when compared to the day’s events involving the Yankees, whose roster has become an elastic thing, with the addition of Canseco, David Justice, Denny Neagle, Jose Vizcaino, Glenallen Hill, Luis Polonia and Luis Sojo--also acquired Monday--in the last two months.

“In 1998 and 1999, the team told us that we didn’t need to make any moves,” said Brian Cashman, the Yankee general manager. “This club told us that we needed to shore up this area and that area. Other teams have closed the gap and we needed to respond.”

Acquiring Canseco stunned several people, including Yankee Manager Joe Torre, whose endorsement of the move was hardly ringing.

“I don’t get surprised too often, but I was surprised,” he said. “Hopefully, he will help us win a game. . . .

“My job is to manage the players who are in uniform. I have no opinion of the move. I know what Jose is capable of. There’s no question that he’s a threat, but this was a surprise.”

Canseco, who has been an everyday player--when uninjured--during a career in which he has 440 home runs, also was a bit confused.

“I don’t know how I’m going to fit in,” he said. “I really don’t know what they want me to do. I don’t know my role yet.”

Torre will try to fit Canseco--who has a feared bat to go with his bad back--into a crowded left field/DH slot that already includes Justice, Hill, Polonia and Ryan Thompson.

One of those players, possibly Polonia, could be let go to make room for Canseco when he arrives today. Canseco could also be used off the bench, even though he has only six hits in 35 at-bats as a pinch-hitter.

Canseco, 36, is hitting .257 with nine homers and 30 runs batted in in 61 games. He missed 46 games because of a strained left heel.

The Yankees, who paid Tampa Bay a $20,000 waiver fee, will be responsible for the remainder of Canseco’s $3-million contract this season, about $900,000. They hold a $4-million club option for next season with a $500,000 buyout.

Torre’s assessment of Canseco was in sharp contrast to his reaction to New York’s addition of backup infielder Sojo, acquired from Pittsburgh in a trade for minor league pitcher Chris Spurling.

“He was one of our leaders the last few years,” Torre said of Sojo, who played four seasons with the Yankees. “I know he’ll be pleased coming back and the guys will be happy to see him.”

They will be particularly happy after the Yankees put second baseman Chuck Knoblauch on the 15-day disabled list--retroactive to Aug. 3--Monday because of tendinitis and inflammation in his right elbow.

While the Yankees were sorting themselves out, Seattle was enjoying a weekend that began with a 13-6 loss, then got better in what was seen as a potential playoff preview.

“It was good to come into Yankee Stadium and get three out of four,” Mariner Manager Lou Piniella said. “This is not an easy place to come in and play at, especially after losing the first one. It was a good win for us.”

On Monday, Brooklyn-born John Halama (10-5) gave up three solo homers--two to Justice--but little else.

Neagle (2-2) struggled, giving up seven runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. Neagle, 2-0 with a 2.25 earned-run average in his first three starts for the Yankees, has an 7.11 ERA in losing the last two.

“We’re malfunctioning right now,” Torre said. “We need to get back and establish our pitching again. The only good thing is that we’ve maintained our lead throughout this whole thing.”

Rodriguez broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning with a solo homer, his 28th. Guillen’s grand slam broke open the game in the sixth.

But that was one day, and the Canseco move figures to have a longer-term effect.

“As an organization, we’ve always been enamored with this player,” Cashman said. “He’s one of the game’s biggest names. His career has certainly been held back by injuries. Hopefully he has more left in him and his bat can help us down the stretch.”

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Yankeee Shuffle

Personnel moves by the New York Yankees in hopes of strengthening the team for a fourth World Series title in five years:

* Aug. 7--Acquired designated hitter Jose Canseco from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on a waiver claim; acquired infielder Luis Sojo from the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher Chris Spurling.

* Aug. 3--Signed outfielder Luis Polonia for the remainder of the 2000 season.

* July 22--Acquired outfielder Glenallen Hill from the Chicago Cubs for pitchers Ben Ford and Ozwaldo Mairena.

* July 12--Acquired pitcher Denny Neagle and minor league outfielder Mike Frank from the Cincinnati Reds for four minor leaguers: third baseman Drew Henson, outfielder Jackson Melian and pitchers Ed Yarnall and Brian Reith.

* July 8--Purchased the contract of pitcher Dwight Gooden from Class-A Tampa, Fla.

* June 29--Acquired outfielder David Justice from the Cleveland Indians for outfielder Ricky Ledee and two players to be named.

* June 21--Acquired infielder Jose Vizcaino from the Dodgers for catcher Jim Leyritz.