From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s John Hickey :
The New York Yankees have been considered the presumptive winners of efforts to get Randy Winn (above) from the Mariners.
It might not be as simple as that.
A confidant of Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Winn isn’t necessarily at the top of the Yankees’ wish list.
“Winn’s a nice player, but they just haven’t been convinced he can play center field for them,” the source said.
That said, there aren’t many options anywhere for the Yankees, who are looking to upgrade in center with Bernie Williams on the downside of his career.
Sources also are saying that, in contrast to some speculation, the Mariners have not offered starting pitcher Gil Meche to the Yankees. And there have been no discussions that would send Williams from the Bronx to Safeco Field.
Yankees starter Carl Pavano, suggested to be part of a Winn-to-New York deal, isn’t a factor in trade talks, either.
Pavano wasn’t going to be available to Seattle unless the Yankees got more pitching in return from the Mariners, but it hardly matters because Pavano is on the disabled list and can’t be traded.