Lee's agent doesn't expect much activity at GM meetings

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman might accomplish a few things at next week's GM meetings in Orlando, Fla.

One of those, however, won't be making significant headway with prized free-agent pitcher Cliff Lee.

Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker, said Friday not to expect much on that front next week, with the Yankees or any other team. Braunecker said he hadn't yet decided if he would attend the meetings, though he is leaning in that direction.

"We're trying to finalize the coordination of schedules of multiple parties [including our own], as well as anticipated inquiries from a couple of teams that we've not yet heard from but know of their interest,'' Braunecker told Newsday in an e-mail.

Should the agent go to Orlando, it would be so he could meet "face to face" with a couple of teams with whom he has not yet had contact.

If he goes, Braunecker said he expects to still be doing "first meetings" with teams and not talking contract specifics.

Cashman has said he doesn't expect Lee to make his decision until around the winter meetings, which are Dec. 6-9 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Still, Cashman flew to Arkansas on Tuesday night and had lunch Wednesday with Braunecker, Lee and Lee's wife, Kristen. at the couple's home.

The Yankees, the favorite to sign Lee, though other teams such as the Texas Rangers will be in the mix, were the first team to visit with the lefthander in person. Lee is expected, at least at the start, to ask for something similar to the seven-year, $161-million contract CC Sabathia received from the Yankees in 2008. Teams, including the Yankees, will be wary of committing that many years to a pitcher who will turn 33 next season. An average salary of at least $20 million a season likely will scare off other teams, but not the Yankees and maybe not the Rangers, either.

Wednesday's lunch was also an opportunity to alleviate concerns Lee or his wife, who had a negative experience with some Yankees fans during the ALCS, might have had about New York.

"The feel I got from her, and him, is that this is a place that intrigues them a great deal," Cashman said Thursday night. "But unfortunately, I'm sure there's other places that will intrigue them, as well."

Notes & quotes: Cashman interviewed bullpen coach Mike Harkey and Athletics minor-league pitching coordinator Gil Patterson on Thursday for the vacant pitching coach job.

"We'll have more going forward," Cashman said. "It'll get interrupted with the GM meetings. I won't do anything this weekend. Monday, Tuesday, I'll be down in Orlando. I'll start them up again next week and try to make a decision as soon as possible."

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitching coach Scott Aldred will be among those interviewed.