Infielder Miguel Cairo and the New York Yankees reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday on a $1 million, one-year contract.

Johnny Damon arrived in NYC late Wednesday night with his face clean shaven and a haircut you could set your watch to in preparation for his official introduction as a New York Yankee.

The Mariners took a chance on Matt Lawton, agreeing Thursday to a $400,000, one-year contract with a player who will start next season under suspension because of steroid use.

Matt Lawton admitted that he took the veterinary steroid boldenone last season, just before he was suspended for 10 days for violating Major League Baseball's steroids policy.

Scott Boras, who also represents Bernie Williams, said that Williams and the Yankees had agreed on a one-year, $1.

Brian Cashman has focused squarely on his bullpen this winter, and the Yankees general manager made yet another move to bolster that area on Tuesday.

The New York Yankees grabbed center fielder Johnny Damon away from the rival Boston Red Sox, reaching a preliminary agreement Tuesday night on a $52 million, four-year contract.

Free-agent reliever Octavio Dotel will most likely choose a team today, and the Yankees felt they were "very much in it," a local source told The Post yesterday.

Red Sox owner John Henry, said to be apoplectic about the failed talks to bring back popular Theo Epstein as general manager, blames himself for underestimating Epstein's distaste for working with club president Larry Lucchino and allowing the generally reviled Lucchino to handle negotiations until it was too late.

Ron Villone went to his first game at Yankee Stadium in 1976, when New York was starting a run of four AL pennants and two World Series titles in a six-season span.

"After thoughtful deliberations with my family, I am announcing my decision to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic," Rodriguez told The New York Post for Friday's editions.

Nomar Garciaparra is getting closer to deciding where he is going to play next year.

Nomar Garciaparra's agent, Arn Tellem, told ESPN.

Now Nomar Garciaparra has heard Joe Torre's recruiting pitch over the phone.

Before departing for Italy yesterday, Joe Torre made one more recruiting call on behalf of the Yankees.

The Yankees are considering signing the 32-year-old Nomar Garciaparra to play first base.

Carl 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.

The New York Yankees traded Tony Womack to the Cincinnati Reds for a pair of 24-year-old prospects on Thursday, getting rid of the second baseman-turned-outfielder just one season after signing him.

Bernie Williams might be back with the New York Yankees.

In something of an about-face, Damon sounded frustrated enough to leave the organization for which he became world champion, chief Idiot and marketable marquee man.

Arn Tellem called Brian Cashman not too long ago and asked him to consider Nomar Garciaparra as a possible solution to the Yankees' centerfield vacancy.

The New York Yankees lost between $50 million and $85 million for the 2005 season, the New York Daily News reported Sunday.

The Yankees also remain entrenched in the market for a new centerfielder, with trades for Philadelphia's Jason Michaels and Florida's Juan Pierre two of many possibilities that recently have been discussed internally by team officials.

WFAN has learned that free-agent pitcher Kyle Farnsworth has reached a tentative agreement to sign with the New York Yankees.

The last time Juan Pierre played center field in Yankee Stadium, he helped the Marlins win the 2003 World Series.

Philadelphia has reached a preliminary agreement with Tom Gordon on an $18 million, three-year contract on Thursday, giving the team a replacement for departed closer Billy Wagner.

Nomar Garciaparra, a free agent, wants teams to know he would switch positions.

Kyle Farnsworth has opted for the Yankees' offer to be a well-paid setup man over what Braves general manager John Schuerholz said was a three-year offer to be Atlanta's closer.