Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez Both Targeted by New York Yankees

(Zell's Pinstripe Blog)

That’s right. The Yankees are still in it, according to many baseball officials. They are still involved in the Tex and Manny sweepstakes. If they can’t get Tex, then they will go after Manny.

I guess Hank Steinbrenner really meant it when he said they planned on restoring the universe to order, and he planned on putting the Yankees back on top.

Obviously with the losses of Giambi and Abreu there is a big gap in the lineup. The organization feels that they need someone to protect A-Rod and not give him all the pressure to produce. If they can’t land Manny, then they can also pursue Jermaine Dye.

The Yankees are likely to offer Ramirez, who turns 37 in May, a three-year deal in the $20 million range, though agent Scott Boras reportedly is seeking a five-year deal for the future Hall of Fame lock.

Because the signings of Sabathia (seven years for $161 million) and A.J. Burnett (five years for $82.5 million) leave $48.5 million of the $88 million that came off the Yankees’ payroll, there is plenty of glue left for more additions.

Another option would be to obtain right-handed hitting outfielder Jermaine Dye, who turns 35 next month, from the White Sox.

Dye has the Yankees among the six teams for which he can veto a trade, and it is not likely the Yankees would give him an extension (or pick up a $12 million option for 2010) to waive the no-trade clause.

“If they can’t get Teixeira, they are right there on Manny,” an official with knowledge of the Yankees’ plan said yesterday.

“Hank (Steinbrenner) wants him, but he isn’t alone in the organization,” a source said of Ramirez. “They need somebody to protect Alex (Rodriguez).”

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