Tampa, Fla. | Manager Joe Torre and the core of Yankees' players that won four World Series titles with Bernie Williams are resigned to the outfielder's absence.
Williams rejected the Yankees offer of a minor league contract, instead wanting a guarantee of a job when the season starts.
"It's sad," said Torre, who hasn't talked with Williams since late last week, "but not surprising in the fact that I haven't heard back from him."
"It appears he's not coming," Jeter said Wednesday. "It will set in a little bit more as the spring goes on. For selfish reasons, I'm disappointed he's not here.
"I don't want to talk about his career being over yet," Jeter said. "Let him decide if he's done playing before I make comments on his career. It goes without saying what he's meant to the organization."
