While covering the Yankees re-signing Hideki Matsui to a 4 year deal, Newsday’s Jon Heyman and Jim Baumbach slipped in the following ;

The Yankees were discouraged by Scott Boras’ asking price of $84 million over seven years for Johnny Damon, so they will look seriously at signing Brian Giles with the thought of using a rotation in centerfield.

The Yankees are thinking about offering Giles, 34, close to $30 million for three years, but they want to investigate whether he seriously will consider coming to New York, a person familiar with the situation said.

Although signing Giles would add a much-needed small-ball type of player to the Yankees’ lineup – he reaches base often, runs the bases well and hits a ton of doubles – he is not a true centerfielder, having started only 30 games there in the past five years.

The Kansas City Star’s Bob Dutton reports that Reggie Sanders and Elmer Dessens are the Royals’ top two free agent targets this off-season. Should be quite the stampede to the ticket office if either or both are signed.