Along with providing an autopsy for the Mets’ failed (for now) pursuit of Manny Ramirez, Newsday’s Jon Heyman serves up the following with less than 3 hours to go before the trading deadline :
The Yankees are scanning the weak pitching market and considering Ron Villone, Eddie Guardado (who has a shoulder tear), Scott Sauerbeck, Kevin Millwood, Bobby Howry, Jason Johnson, Scott Eyre, Rick White and Mark Redman. One person said even Jeff Weaver’s name came
The Yankees called Cincinnati about Ken Griffey Jr., but the Reds called back to say, “No thanks.” Which stunned everyone, given that the Reds finally had their chance to get out of most of the $47 million remaining on Griffey’s contract.
Regarding the Reds’ intractability, one NL exec said: “They’ve made Kent Mercker damn near untouchable. Kent Mercker!”
The Phillies sought only a No. 1 starting pitcher, a reliever and two top prospects for Billy Wagner. No mention of a first-born son, though.