While the Mets have expressed some interest in signing Ron Villone, the lefty reliever still hasn't heard a word from the Yankees.
"Several other teams are more than interested," Villone said Friday from his Englewood home. "I'd like for the Yankees to be [interested], but if they've got other plans ..."
The Yankees' immediate attention remains elsewhere.
Friday, the club announced the one-year ($1.5 million) signing of Doug Mientkiewicz, who arrives with a 2001 Gold Glove award at first base and a shoulder for Alex Rodriguez to lean on.
During their high school days in Miami, Mientkiewicz played tight end as A-Rod quarterbacked Westminster Christian to a 1992 championship.
Now, part of Mientkiewicz's job is to save some of A-Rod's errant throws after his 24 errors last season -- twice his 2005 total.
"Trust me, no one's harder on themselves than Alex himself," Mientkiewicz said. "He's always been that way, since the day I met him. It's almost been a detriment [that] he doesn't allow his natural ability to take over."
A career .270 left-handed hitter, Mientkiewicz, 32, batted .283 in 314 at-bats, with four homers and 43 RBI, for Kansas City last year. His season ended on July 25, with surgery required for a herniated disk.
Mientkiewicz is fully healed, and some unspecified family-related "distractions" from 2005 (when he batted .240 with the Mets) have been resolved.
"My biggest regret is that I didn't show [New York] the player I could be and I am," said Mientkiewicz, adding that it "took a long time" to get over being traded from the celebrated 2004 Red Sox.
The controversial baseball that Mientkiewicz caught (and then kept) to record Boston's first world championship since 1918 now resides at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
In Tampa next month, Josh Phelps and Andy Phillips will compete to be Mientkiewicz's right-handed platoon. But the only lefty reliever could be Mike Myers. Rookie left-hander Sean Henn also is in the mix, according to general manager Brian Cashman.
Villone, who turns 37 next week, learned of the Mets' interest Thursday during a conversation with agent Scott Boras, who also represents lefty reliever Scott Schoeneweis -- whose contract demands have dimmed the Yanks' interest.
Though he admits to having tired over the final six weeks of the season, Villone was still throwing above 90 mph.
BRIEFS: Cashman's focus is "more outside the organization" for a backup infielder, though Miguel Cairo could return. David Bell and Bronx-born Ronnie Belliard are available free agents.
Scott Proctor most likely will train as a starting pitcher in spring training.
Cashman has maintained "an open and honest dialogue" with Bernie Williams, though there's currently no room for him. ... Bobby Murcer is doing "extremely well" following surgery to remove a brain tumor, and was home for New Year's. He'll return to a Houston cancer hospital for additional tests next week.
Source: NJ Herald
Come on guys! Don't leave your most reliable left-handed reliever out there to be snatched up! This guy deserves a roster spot. Get on it, Cashman! Without Villone, we have 1 lefty reliever, and he's a specialist, not an everyday MR. Don't play hard-ball with Villone - he's said he'd love to come back to the Yankees, and would be the only team he'd accept a short-term deal from, but he is one of the better lefty relievers available, and you know he'll get the job done.
