yanks wheeling and dealing

[Velcro]

The Yankees added to their collection of free-agent relief pitchers, agreeing Wednesday with right-hander Paul Quantrill on a two-year deal worth $6.8 million, ESPN's Peter Gammons reports.

The Yankees also agreed to a deal with reliever Felix Heredia on Wednesday. Heredia is getting a two-year contract worth about $3.8 million to stay in the Bronx. He was 0-1 with a 1.20 ERA in 12 appearances with the Yankees, who claimed him off waivers from Cincinnati on Aug. 25.

He was 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 57 games with the Reds.

Heredia had a $1.7 million player option for 2004, which he declined. His new deal calls for $1.8 million salaries in each of the next two seasons and gives the Yankees a $2.5 million option for 2006 with a $200,000 buyout.

Two days earlier, New York and veteran Tom Gordon agreed on a two-year contract for $7.25 million.

The Yankees continue to be active in revamping their roster. They have also retained third baseman Aaron Boone, who agreed Monday to a one-year contract worth $5.75 million, and infielder Enrique Wilson, who agreed to a one-year deal worth $700,000 on Tuesday.

In other free agent news Wednesday:

Outfielder Raul Mondesi and catcher Benito Santiago are close to signing with the Kansas City Royals, Gammons reports.

Mariners free-agent closer Shigetoshi Hasegawa told the Yomiuri Shimbun in Tokyo he has received an offer from the Yankees and has offers from nearly 30 teams. He said he will make his decision by Jan. 10. Backup catcher John Flaherty has agreed to a $775,000, one-year contract, but must pass a physical for the deal to be finalized.

Free-agent outfielder Gary Sheffield agreed Sunday to accept the Yankees' three-year offer worth between $36 million and $38 million, but there might be some snags in the deal, which has not been signed.

Meanwhile, the Yanks and the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to mull a Jeff Weaver-for-Kevin Brown trade.

On the Brown front, Dodgers sources told The Los Angeles Times that the veteran right-hander is open to a trade to a team closer to his offseason home in Macon, Ga.

According to The Times' report Wednesday, sources said Brown's agent Scott Boras recently informed general manager Dan Evans that Brown would waive his no-trade clause to join the Yankees.

Evans declined to comment on his talks with Boras.

"Kevin Brown is a Dodger and he has every intention of fulfilling his contract," Boras told The Times, adding "all I will say is that if an opportunity presented itself, the only way he would consider waiving his no-trade clause would be because of his family.

"... The fact that anyone who knows Kevin knows how important his wife and children are to him and how difficult it is for him to be away from them during the season, that's the only way he would consider something like that."

Though he hasn't demanded a trade, sources told The Times, he has the right to as a player with at least 10 seasons in the majors and five with one team. Brown was 14-9 last season with a 2.39 ERA, second-best in the NL, and 185 strikeouts in 211 innings.

Brown turns 39 in March and is guaranteed to make $15 million in each of the next two seasons, which makes him a risk considering the major injuries to his elbow and back suffered in recent seasons.

New York also is trying to re-sign Gabe White, another left-handed reliever. Chris Hammond, signed last offseason as a left-handed setup man, may be traded.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

I see alot of deals there that seem odd...

for one.. Paul Quantril???  why would the yankees want him.

So the new yankees will have

Quantril

Sheffield

Gordon

Heredia

Boone

Wilson

Hasegawa

Flaherty

Somehow, i don't think the Red Sox are shaking in their boots at these acquisitions/resignings.

[KnightsRule]

Q is a former Red Sox so I hope he works out as well for the yanks as Mendoza worked out for sox. Q is one hell of a middle reliever/setup guy though and their pen was terrible last year.