Gonzalez Will Join Yankees on One Condition

Jim Bronner, the agent for Detroit Tiger left fielder Juan Gonzalez, told the New York Yankees on Friday that his client would agree to waive a no-trade clause and join the Yankees, sources said, but only if he could retain his free-agent eligibility at the end of the season.

The Yankees, who have agreed to send outfielder Ricky Ledee, third base prospect Drew Henson and double-A pitcher Randy Keisler in exchange for Gonzalez, would prefer to negotiate a contract extension with Gonzalez rather than giving up three players to merely rent him for the rest of the season.

However, sources familiar with the situation said the Yankees regarded Bronner’s stance as a negotiating ploy and were still hopeful Gonzalez can be talked into an agreement, which won’t come cheaply. Gonzalez is making $7.5 million this year and has turned down an eight-year, $140-million offer from the Tigers, who traded six players to acquire Gonzalez and two others from the Texas Rangers last November.

The commissioner’s office gave the Yankees 72 hours in which they can negotiate with Gonzalez and his agent after the Yankees and Tigers agreed on players Thursday night. That window expires Sunday, although the Yankees seem to believe they can get an extension, the sources said.

The Yankees are one of 10 teams Gonzalez has listed in a limited no-trade clause. He told teammates Friday that he would be staying in Detroit, sources said, but that was obviously not the message that Bronner gave the Yankees, who also are said to have kept communications open with the Chicago Cubs regarding Sammy Sosa.

The Yankees opted for Gonzalez over Sosa because the Cubs were said to be demanding their entire catalog of top prospects and because Sosa will be seeking an extension of at least $18 million a year.