The Yankees can spend whatever it takes for free-agent right-hander Roger Clemens; their payroll is down to $157 million, according to a major-league source, $167 million including benefits.
With a relatively trim payroll by their standards, might the Yankees make a run at the Rocket? (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
Yet, for all their streamlining, the Yankees still don't have room for free-agent center fielder Bernie Williams. The problem is not money, but roster space — the Yankees don't have a spot for Williams, and they want to keep the bottom of their roster flexible.
Williams, 38, played far more often and was far more productive than the Yankees expected last season, but he no longer offers assets that most teams want from their bench players — stolen-base ability, above-average defense, pinch-hitting prowess.
If injuries strike, the Yankees might need to promote an outfielder such as Kevin Thompson or infielder such as Alberto Gonzalez to occupy their 25th spot. They would be locked in with Williams, and the last thing they would want would be to release him in the middle of the season.
Gonzalez, acquired in the Randy Johnson trade, is considered one of the top defensive shortstops in minor-league baseball; two teams contacted the Yankees to express interest in acquiring him before the Johnson trade was even official.
A final note on the Yankees: The team sees little need to re-sign free-agent left-hander Ron Villone, in part because their right-handed relievers are proficient at retiring lefties and in part because they believe that lefty Sean Henn might enjoy the same type of breakout that Matt Thornton did with the White Sox last season.
Give me Ron Villone as a long-reliever and left-handed middle relief any day over Sean Henn. What crap. Henn has had numerous chances at the major league level, and plays like crap. Period.
