Yanks Ready to Make a Move

From Mark Feinsand:

With the trade deadline looming a week from Thursday, the Yankees' brain trust will gather Thursday in Tampa to discuss potential moves.

The meeting will include co-chairmen Hank and Hal Steinbrenner, president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, special adviser Gene Michael, pro scouting director Billy Eppler and senior VP Felix Lopez. Manager Joe Girardi isn't expected to be at the meeting, but he is expected to have some input.

A source with knowledge of the situation said that the Steinbrenner brothers have been pleased with the team's recent play, so they want to show the players that they are committed to winning this year by making moves to bolster the roster.

"They're ready to do whatever they need to do at the deadline," the source said. "They want to make a run this year."

The Yankees are focused on two areas: adding a righthanded bat and a starting pitcher, with several targets already on their radar.

Pittsburgh's Jason Bay and Xavier Nady are the top two outfield bats on the market. The Yankees have discussed starting pitchers such as Seattle's Jarrod Washburn, Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo and Toronto's A.J. Burnett.

The Bombers also are in the market for a lefthanded reliever, with Pittsburgh's Damaso Marte and Colorado's Brian Fuentes among the potential targets.

If I had my druthers, I'd like the Yankees to get Nady and and a starter. Adding one of the lefties for the pen would be a bonus. They already have one of the better bullpens in baseball, adding one of these guys might make it the best.