Lefty
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The Yankees and Mets are closing in on a deal that would send All-Star closer Armando Benitez across town, to serve in a set-up role for Mariano Rivera.
Sources have told ESPN's Peter Gammons that the Yankees have agreed to absorb the remaining money on Benitez's contract for the rest of this season, or about $3 million, and the two sides are negotiating the identity of prospects who would be sent to the Mets. In many cases, a team trading a hefty contract would be willing to pick up a portion of the salary, but the Mets were reluctant to do so with Benitez.
Sources say a prospect the Mets may receive from the Yankees is right-hander Jason Anderson, who has spent parts of this season with New York. In 22 appearances -- all in relief -- for the Yankees, Anderson, 24, is 1-0 with a 4.79 ERA.
Benitez, meanwhile, is 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA, but has seven blown saves in 28 opportunities.
"It's not done, but it's very serious and very close," said one official. "It's not done, but it might get done tomorrow (Wednesday), it might get done Friday; you don't know always know how things like this go."
Because the Yankees will pay Benitez's salary, Grade B type prospects would go to the Mets, rather than someone like left-hander Brandon Claussen, considered the Yankees' best young pitcher.
The Yankees know first-hand of Benitez's fragile psyche. He set off a nasty brawl between the Orioles and Yankees in 1998 when he drilled Tino Martinez in the middle of the back, following a home run by Bernie Williams.
Two years later, after Benitez was traded to the Mets and became their closer, the Mets led the Yankees in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the World Series. But Benitez walked Paul O'Neill, allowed a single to pinch-hitter Luis Polonia and another hit before Chuck Knoblauch drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly.
Just a few weeks ago, Benitez completely collapsed while trying to close out the Yankees, walking home the tying run; the Yankees eventually won the game in extra innings.
But the market for relievers is thin, and the Yankees have a glaring need for a right-handed reliever. They had substantive talks with Texas for Ugueth Urbina, but the Rangers made a deal last week with the Florida Marlins, and Benitez is apparently Plan B for the Yankees.
Sources have told ESPN's Peter Gammons that the Yankees have agreed to absorb the remaining money on Benitez's contract for the rest of this season, or about $3 million, and the two sides are negotiating the identity of prospects who would be sent to the Mets. In many cases, a team trading a hefty contract would be willing to pick up a portion of the salary, but the Mets were reluctant to do so with Benitez.
Sources say a prospect the Mets may receive from the Yankees is right-hander Jason Anderson, who has spent parts of this season with New York. In 22 appearances -- all in relief -- for the Yankees, Anderson, 24, is 1-0 with a 4.79 ERA.
Benitez, meanwhile, is 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA, but has seven blown saves in 28 opportunities.
"It's not done, but it's very serious and very close," said one official. "It's not done, but it might get done tomorrow (Wednesday), it might get done Friday; you don't know always know how things like this go."
Because the Yankees will pay Benitez's salary, Grade B type prospects would go to the Mets, rather than someone like left-hander Brandon Claussen, considered the Yankees' best young pitcher.
The Yankees know first-hand of Benitez's fragile psyche. He set off a nasty brawl between the Orioles and Yankees in 1998 when he drilled Tino Martinez in the middle of the back, following a home run by Bernie Williams.
Two years later, after Benitez was traded to the Mets and became their closer, the Mets led the Yankees in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the World Series. But Benitez walked Paul O'Neill, allowed a single to pinch-hitter Luis Polonia and another hit before Chuck Knoblauch drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly.
Just a few weeks ago, Benitez completely collapsed while trying to close out the Yankees, walking home the tying run; the Yankees eventually won the game in extra innings.
But the market for relievers is thin, and the Yankees have a glaring need for a right-handed reliever. They had substantive talks with Texas for Ugueth Urbina, but the Rangers made a deal last week with the Florida Marlins, and Benitez is apparently Plan B for the Yankees.
