The Yankees are believed to be interested in free agent Eduardo Perez, who hit .255 with 11 homers and a .368 OBP in just 161 at-bats with Tampa Bay this past year. The 36-year-old Perez, a right-handed hitter who played mostly first base in 2005, hit 10 of those homers in 137 at-bats against lefties. He also clobbered the Yankees this past year, going deep four times in 17 at-bats.

The Yankees are still exploring center field options, but the Texas Rangers, despite a surplus of outfielders, did not like what the Yankees offered for Laynce Nix or Gary Matthews Jr.

With free agents Kevin Millwood, Jarrod Washburn, Matt Morris and Jeff Weaver remaining on the market, the best fit is Washburn, a 31-year-old lefty who was 8-8 with a 3.20 ERA in 29 starts. ...

That means Pavano could be shopped, though teams have to be wary of a right shoulder problem that forced him appear in only 17 games and none after mid-June. And there is $30 million and three years remaining. ...

The Yankees could deal Pavano to the Mariners for center fielder Jeremy Reed, an above-average defender who batted .254 last year in 141 games.

The Phillies are looking for pitching, and while the Yankees would certainly need more than outfielder Jason Michaels in return, how about Pavano being part of a package that lands Bobby Abreu, whom the Phillies are shopping hard? Of course the Yankees would have to include Gary Sheffield to get Abreu, and they aren't likely to do that.

The Orioles have reportedly made a one-year, $4 million offer to Nomar Garciaparra to be their DH. The Yanks would be interested in bringing Garciaparra to the Bronx as a jack-of-all-trades player for a similar price, but Garciaparra is said to be seeking a bigger salary.