Yankees’ Bid to Reacquire Hayes Denied

NEW YORK â€”  Distraught about the drafting of Charlie Hayes, the Yankees made a frazzled and desperate draft-day trade plea to the Colorado Rockies to try to retrieve the lost third baseman, according to baseball sources. The stunned Yankees, according to one source, quickly offered the Rockies a two-for-one deal for Hayes that immediately was rejected.

While not naming the Yankees who were offered during the draft, the source said neither player was on the Yankees’ original protected list. One might have been Hensley Meulens, who, barring a trade or free-agent signing, is now the third base favorite.

When asked about the Yankees’ attempt to reacquire Hayes, vice president Brian Sabean said, “That’s news to me. I never even came close to hearing that.� General manager Gene Michael did not return a call.

Rockies GM Bob Gebhard said a few teams tried to retrieve drafted players but declined to discuss the Yankees. “I wouldn’t say anything to embarrass any other team. Trade rumors filled the room,� Gebhard said. “Hayes is our third baseman, and that’s the way we’re hoping to keep it.�

One Florida Marlins official said Yankees executives were “screaming� at each other immediately after Hayes was selected. The Yankees have admitted believing, mistakenly, that Hayes would “slide through� the first round. He was picked third overall.

The Yankees have not called the Rockies since that lone trade attempt and may be resigned to having to replace Hayes, who hit .257 with 18 home runs. Even if they improve their offer, the chances of a deal are slim.

“Hayes will be a building block; he’s a big guy for us,� Rockies assistant GM Randy Smith said. “We think Hayes is an outstanding young third baseman. We jumped on it.�

Asked whether they would consider dealing Hayes, Smith said, “It would take a considerable amount for us to even think about it.� And Gebhard added, “Somebody would have to overwhelm me to get him.�

Michael, through agent Irwin Weiner, told Meulens the Yankees are pursuing trade and free-agent possibilities and can’t guarantee him a starting spot.

“They couldn’t really give me an answer,� Meulens said from his home in Coral Springs, Fla. “I wanted them to tell me, ‘You’re the guy.’ But something else might happen. It’s too early to get excited about anything. I’ve been through it before.�

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Long believed to have a strong interest in star free-agent pitcher David Cone, the Yankees confirmed that interest during talks late last week with Cone’s agent, Steve Fehr.

“All we’ve had is preliminary talks,� Fehr said. “All we said is that we’re interested in them, and all they said was that they were interested in us.� Cone, a Manhattan resident, previously identified the Yankees, Royals, Phillies and Blue Jays as teams high on his list. Fehr said, “He said a few teams particularly interest him. Certainly the Yankees were, and are, among them.�

Several teams have called to express interest in Cone, but not the Mets, according to Fehr. He said no meetings have been set up with the Yankees, but added, “I expect to talk to them again. I’m not sure when.�

Fehr repeated Cone’s assertion that he wouldn’t necessarily demand a five-year contract. Fehr did say Cone would prefer to play for a winner, but added, “In today’s market, where there are worst-to-first teams in the World Series, the number of wins a team had the last year doesn’t necessarily translate.�

The Yankees, who also have contacted free agent Greg Maddux, have identified the acquisition of starting pitching as their top priority. They view Cone and Maddux as potential aces.