TAMPA - Dwight Gooden will have a twofold job this season with the Yankees.
Gooden will evaluate and instruct players while deepening his knowledge of the team's overall baseball operations.
The 1985 NL Cy Young Award winner served as pitching coach for the Yankees' rookie club last season in the Gulf Coast League. His first pro coaching assignment provided important insight but also reinforced Gooden's desire to work toward a front-office position.
"It pointed me in the right direction," Gooden said Wednesday at the minor-league complex. "Not that I didn't enjoy it. It gave me a chance to look at it from a different perspective. It definitely helped me to make my decision a little easier on which way I want to go."
The Tampa native and former Hillsborough High standout will work closely with several Yankees officials, including vice president of player personnel Billy Connors. Gooden was included in several offseason meetings and was involved in the recruitment of rightfielder Gary Sheffield, his nephew.
"It's always fun to have a new challenge," Gooden said. "I'm definitely looking forward to that. Last year was great, getting experience being on the field as a pitching coach. With my background on and off the field, I think I have more to offer being involved with the whole evaluation part of it."
Meanwhile, catcher Joe Girardi said he expects to join the YES network as a broadcaster. Girardi will go to spring training on a minor-league contract but has little chance of making the roster.
CUBS STILL AFTER MADDUX: General manager Jim Hendry and Greg Maddux's agent, Scott Boras, are expected to talk today as the Cubs continue to try to persuade the right-hander to return to Chicago. Neither side would say whether Hendry had improved his two-year offer, believed to be worth $10-million to $14-million.
STENSON SHOOTING: There is no known relationship between the ex-girlfriend of slain Reds player Dernell Stenson and the suspects in his death, police said. Jennifer Gaddis of Indiana remains an investigative lead, but the November robbery that led to Stenson's death appears to have been a random act, Chandler police spokesman Sgt. Mark Franzen said.
JAPANESE TV: Games will be carried on four Japanese television networks this year.
METS: Right-hander Scott Erickson agreed to a minor-league contract a day after marrying Monday Night Football sideline reporter Lisa Guerrero in Hawaii. ... Cliff Floyd believes his right Achilles' tendon won't cause problems when the team opens spring training this month. The outfielder had a bone spur removed Aug. 29.
ORIOLES: Utility player Mark McLemore agreed to a minor-league contract and will attend spring training trying for his second stint with the club. McLemore played in Baltimore from 1992-94.
RED SOX: Ellis Burks took a physical, a prelude to a possible deal for the free-agent outfielder. Burks, 39, spent his first six seasons in Boston. His signing could mean more time at first base for David Ortiz, who last season spent 73 games at DH and 45 at first. "I'm preparing myself because I want to play more at first base. I don't want to be, at 28 years old, a DH full time," Ortiz said. ... Dale Sveum was hired as third-base coach, completing manager Terry Francona's staff.
OBITUARY: Ernest Burke, a pitcher and outfielder for the Baltimore Elite Giants in the Negro Leagues, died Saturday of kidney cancer complications in Baltimore. He was 79.
