For the Record, the Yankees Know How to Spend

The New York Yankees set a record with a $138-million payroll last year, according to the final tabulation by the commissioner’s office, and are on the verge of becoming the first team to top $150 million.

The Yankees’ 2003 payroll stands at $149.2 million for 22 signed players who probably will be on the opening-day roster plus injured pitcher Jon Lieber, according to contract information obtained by Associated Press.

The Yankees are one of two teams projected by the commissioner’s office to be paying the new luxury tax this year. The other is the New York Mets.

The Yankee payroll is likely to top $150 million by March 11, the deadline to sign players on rosters. Still unsigned are second baseman Alfonso Soriano, who made $630,000 last year and hit 39 homers, and designated hitter Nick Johnson.

New York’s final 2002 payroll was $138.4 million, according to the commissioner’s office, up from $114.5 million in 2001, when the Yankees finished between the Dodgers ($115.5 million) and Boston ($114.3 million).

Boston was second in 2002 at $116.6 million, according to baseball’s final figures, followed by Arizona ($109.5 million), Texas ($108.9 million), the Dodgers ($103.1 million) and the Mets ($102.9 million).

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Delayed by a visa problem, closer Jose Jimenez of the Colorado Rockies reported to spring training a day late. Fellow reliever Rich Garces, however, remained a no-show.

After both players missed their scheduled physical exams Saturday, the club tried to contact their agents to determine where they were. Jimenez left his native Dominican Republic on Saturday and participated in all of Sunday’s workouts.

Garces, from Venezuela, was expected to join the club in Tucson but did not arrive.

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Starting pitcher Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians will be sidelined at least a month because of an abdominal strain, a blow to the left-hander’s chances of making the opening-day roster. Also, reliever Mark Wohlers will be sidelined for a week because of a sore right elbow.

The 24-year-old Lee is one of six pitchers fighting for two spots in the starting rotation. He injured his right side last month while throwing from a mound during the club’s winter developmental program in Cleveland,

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The Boston Red Sox agreed to terms on a minor league contract with 18-year-old Gary Galvez, who defected last August from Cuba’s junior national team.