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NEW ORLEANS - The Yankees didn't bother to send any front-office executives to the winter meetings, but they still made most of the news on a quiet opening day.
They moved closer to replacing Andy Pettitte in their rotation as pitcher Kevin Brown gave tentative approval (pending agreement on a contract perks such as jet transportation and tickets for his family) to a trade that will send him from Los Angeles to New York for Jeff Weaver, two minor-leaguers and $3-million, and they closed in on a two-year, $6-million deal to sign free-agent centerfielder Kenny Lofton, who presumably would bump Bernie Williams to the DH role.
There were reports late Friday that they had finally finalized their three-year, $39-million deal with Gary Sheffield, which should end the speculation of them pursuing other top-notch free agents such as Vladimir Guerrero and Miguel Tejada. The Bergen (N.J.) Record reported Sheffield backed off his demands for more money.
And the Yankees heard that Roger Clemens said he would consider postponing his retirement and joining Pettitte on the Astros pitching staff.
The only official transaction Friday was Toronto's signing of right-hander Miguel Batista to a three-year, $13.1-million contract. Batista joins Pat Hentgen and Ted Lilly in the revamped rotation.
Otherwise most of the talk in the lobby of the New Orleans Marriott had to do with big names who hadn't yet been traded or signed.
Agent Scott Boras said the proposed mega-trade of Texas' Alex Rodriguez for Boston's Manny Ramirez was still being discussed at the ownership level. The Sox would then trade Nomar Garciaparra, possibly to the Dodgers.
While Guerrero and Tejada headline the free-agent class, several other big names are supposedly getting close to making decisions - Tejada deciding between Seattle, Baltimore, Detroit and maybe others; closer Keith Foulke between Boston and Oakland; centerfielder Mike Cameron between the A's, Mets and Padres.
Also, pitcher Jeff Suppan was said to be close to a deal with St. Louis, infielder Todd Zeile with Los Angeles and pitcher Sterling Hitchcock with San Diego.
RAYS' VAUGHN HONORED: Devil Rays vice president Rick Vaughn won the Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence.
Vaughn, who once threw a no-hitter for his George Mason University team, has been with the Rays since 1996, working previously for the Washington Federals of the USFL, the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Redskins. The award, named for a long-time baseball executive, goes to the "active, non-uniformed representative of MLB whose ethics, character, dedication, service, professionalism and humanitarianism best represent" Fishel's standards.
MISCELLANY: The Rays are among 18 teams that have expressed interest in signing left-hander Nick Bierbrodt to a minor-league contract. ... GM Chuck LaMar said there have been talks about a multi-year contract for Aubrey Huff but no numbers have been proposed. ... Former Ray Jim Mecir won the Tony Conigliaro Award, which is given to the player who overcomes adversity with spirit, determination and courage. Mecir pitched with club feet, a birth defect. ... The Phillies picked up manager Larry Bowa's option for 2005 and added options for 2006 and 2007.