If Bernie Williams had accepted the Yankees' non-roster invitation to spring training, Bobby Abreu's injury would have given him plenty of additional playing time to prove his worth.

As President Bush smiled and waved from the stands and Mickey Mantle looked on from the dugout, Derek Jeter swung his bat.

Yankees right fielder Bobby Abreu is expected to miss at least two weeks after straining his right oblique during batting practice Monday, an injury manager Joe Torre said won't cause the team to make a new push for Bernie Williams to report.

The Yankees' Johnny Damon rejoined the team Monday after a two-day excused absence to tend to a personal matter.

Jorge Posada is one player that is not concerned about his contract status.

Carl Pavano was asked to undergo further testing on his left foot on Sunday, and the Yankees right-hander didn't need to ask twice for directions.

Mariano Rivera, who also said he would test free agency after 2007, turned serious when he was asked if he could envision himself pitching for Boston.

Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon is expected to miss at least a few days of spring training for personal reasons.

Former major leaguer Frank Torre should find out next week whether one of his relatives is a match for a kidney transplant.

While the A-Rod-Jeter saga continued to play out in Tampa, Don Zimmer weighed in on the subject on the other side of Tampa Bay.

The Yankees have spoken optimistically this week about hoping to see Bernie Williams walk into their Spring Training clubhouse.

Derek Jeter said Tuesday that his cooled friendship with Alex Rodriguez is an unimportant topic, one day after the third baseman admitted that the teammates are no longer as close as they once were.

Alex Rodriguez never said he wouldn't exercise his contractual right to opt out of the final three seasons of his contract following this year.

After insisting for three years that they remained close, Alex Rodriguez said it was "important" to him to publicly confirm what others have said since he joined the team.

It looks like Bernie Williams career with the Yankees is over.

Bernie Williams wants a guarantee, not a maybe, so it appears he won't be with the New York Yankees when position players start workouts Tuesday.

Roger Clemens told Houston television station KRIV on Friday that there is an 80 percent chance he is going to end his Hall of Fame career by retiring.

Yankees general partner Steve Swindal, George Steinbrenner's son-in-law and chosen successor, was arrested early yesterday in St.

GM Brian Cashman said he didn't have contact with Mariano Rivera's agent Thursday.

- Carl Pavano stood alongside his Yankees rotation mates on Thursday, appearing fluid and strong as he announced his health by repeatedly popping catcher Ben Davis' glove.

Joe Torre spoke to Bernie Williams and the message from the Yankees manager was clear: Come to spring training.

The New York Yankees will honor the memory of Cory Lidle by wearing black arm bands on the left sleeves of their uniforms this season.

Yankees manager Joe Torre is trying to reach Bernie Williams and left the impression that the outfielder would have a chance to make New York's roster if he accepts a minor league contract and comes to spring training.

The Yankees added one more arm to challenge for a spot in their bullpen mix on Tuesday, signing left-hander Ron Villone to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.

Mariano Rivera acknowledged the absence of longtime teammate Bernie Williams on Monday, calling it "strange.

Derek Jeter is saddened by the thought of not having longtime teammate Bernie Williams on the club.

Entering his 10th season as GM, Brian Cashman has seen his Yankees teams run the gamut of Spring Training news cycles.

Bernie Williams doesn't plan to accept the Yankees' offer to attend spring training on a minor league contract, the outfielder told several reporters Friday night before playing guitar at a benefit concert.

Hank Bauer, the hard-nosed ex-Marine who returned to baseball after being wounded during World War II and went on to become a cornerstone of the Yankees dynasty of the 1950s, died Friday.

All indications are that Bernie Williams will accept a minor league deal to join the Yankees in Spring Training with an opportunity to make the big-league team.

Alex Rodriguez sidestepped whether he plans to opt out of his record contract with the Yankees and become a free agent following this season.

Yankees captain Derek Jeter expects Roger Clemens to pitch this season.

Jorge Posada is focused on the season as he heads into the final year of his contract with the Yankees.

Mel Stottlemyre will join the Diamondbacks as a special instructor in spring training and will work with the club's pitchers during the season, the team announced Monday.

Flight restrictions imposed around Manhattan after Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle crashed his single-engine plane into an apartment tower will be made permanent, government documents indicate.

Growing up, Luis Polonia idolized fellow Dominican Republic native Julio Franco.

Games at Yankee Stadium are in greater demand than ever, as the organization has already surpassed the three-million-tickets-sold mark for the 2007 season.

During a 20-minute conference call on Friday, Carl Pavano was asked several pointed questions, answered most of them (with varying degrees of detail) and concentrated mostly on one theme: that he is in excellent shape and expects his performance to reverse any unfavorable opinions of him.

Gabrielle Union says that she isn't dating baseball star Derek Jeter.

Bernie Williams is leaning toward accepting the Yankees' offer of a minor-league contract, two people familiar with the situation told Newsday yesterday.

The Yankees hope to introduce a whole new set of fans to their rivalry with the Red Sox.

Roger Clemens talked about his plight and laughed.

Bernie Williams has a big decision ahead.