Jimcs50
11-03-2004, 01:39 PM
Nomar has 2nd thoughts
BY ANTHONY McCARRON
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Could Nomar Garciaparra end up in pinstripes next year?
All-star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra has told friends he would be open to a position change to either second base or third, which could open the way for the Yankees to pursue the free agent as a second baseman.
The Yankees' top offseason priority is improving their starting pitching, but if they signed Garciaparra to play second, they would have all of the famed "three shortstops" playing in the same infield - Garciaparra at second, Alex Rodriguez at third and Derek Jeter, who won his first Gold Glove yesterday, at short.
"Obviously, his preference is short, but he's open to third or second," a friend of Garciaparra's said. "He could play either one and he'd be happy to play either one. He's comfortable playing any of those positions.
"That would be something, wouldn't it, the holy trinity of shortstops on the same team?"
Yanks GM Brian Cashman said he would not comment on specific players, but noted that the Yankees are "open to any concept that makes us better. We're in the information-gathering stage right now."
The Yankees will evaluate incumbent Miguel Cairo, who won the job last season after starting the year in a platoon with Enrique Wilson, before looking at other possibilities, Cashman said.
"We like what Miguel Cairo did for us," Cashman said. "We'll review him first and then assess the rest of the market. It's too early for us to target anyone specifically.
"We're not in any big rush here. We have decisions to make, but not many for a 101-win team."
Cashman refused to say whether he had talked to Garciaparra's agent, Arn Tellem. Tellem did not return a call to his California office.
Garciaparra, 31, hit .308 with nine homers and 41 RBI in an injury-plagued season last year with the Red Sox and Cubs. He is a two-time AL batting champ (1999-2000) and has knocked in 104 or more runs four times.
He was dealt from Boston to Chicago in a four-team swap at the trading deadline, ending a difficult period in which he was hurt when the Sox went after A-Rod and suffered injuries to his Achilles tendon, left wrist and groin. Without him, the Sox, went on to win the World Series for the first time since 1918.
The friend said Garciaparra would have no trouble playing in New York or making a position change. "Given all he's been through, I don't think he'd have a problem dealing with anything," the friend said.
Originally published on November 3, 2004
BY ANTHONY McCARRON
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Could Nomar Garciaparra end up in pinstripes next year?
All-star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra has told friends he would be open to a position change to either second base or third, which could open the way for the Yankees to pursue the free agent as a second baseman.
The Yankees' top offseason priority is improving their starting pitching, but if they signed Garciaparra to play second, they would have all of the famed "three shortstops" playing in the same infield - Garciaparra at second, Alex Rodriguez at third and Derek Jeter, who won his first Gold Glove yesterday, at short.
"Obviously, his preference is short, but he's open to third or second," a friend of Garciaparra's said. "He could play either one and he'd be happy to play either one. He's comfortable playing any of those positions.
"That would be something, wouldn't it, the holy trinity of shortstops on the same team?"
Yanks GM Brian Cashman said he would not comment on specific players, but noted that the Yankees are "open to any concept that makes us better. We're in the information-gathering stage right now."
The Yankees will evaluate incumbent Miguel Cairo, who won the job last season after starting the year in a platoon with Enrique Wilson, before looking at other possibilities, Cashman said.
"We like what Miguel Cairo did for us," Cashman said. "We'll review him first and then assess the rest of the market. It's too early for us to target anyone specifically.
"We're not in any big rush here. We have decisions to make, but not many for a 101-win team."
Cashman refused to say whether he had talked to Garciaparra's agent, Arn Tellem. Tellem did not return a call to his California office.
Garciaparra, 31, hit .308 with nine homers and 41 RBI in an injury-plagued season last year with the Red Sox and Cubs. He is a two-time AL batting champ (1999-2000) and has knocked in 104 or more runs four times.
He was dealt from Boston to Chicago in a four-team swap at the trading deadline, ending a difficult period in which he was hurt when the Sox went after A-Rod and suffered injuries to his Achilles tendon, left wrist and groin. Without him, the Sox, went on to win the World Series for the first time since 1918.
The friend said Garciaparra would have no trouble playing in New York or making a position change. "Given all he's been through, I don't think he'd have a problem dealing with anything," the friend said.
Originally published on November 3, 2004