Mike Celizic

Manager Joe Torre’s suggestion that the New York Yankees might move either Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez to center field isn’t shocking. What is, though, is the idea that the New York Yankees, the wealthiest and most powerful franchise in U.S. sports, failed to plan for the day when Bernie Williams could no longer play center field.

In all fairness, Yankees GM Brian Cashman has said that Torre's statement was false, and the manager himself contends that the quote was misinterpreted. One thing is for sure, it would be a blunder of monumental proportions. For many years, it’s been no secret that Williams’ arm was inadequate to the task of his position. For at least two years, it’s been as obvious as Mike Tyson’s facial tattoos that by the end of his contract after the 2005 season, Williams would be through as an every-day outfielder.

And now, more than a month after the end of that season, the Yankees are acting as if they’ve just noticed they not only don’t have a center fielder, they don’t have any idea of how to get one.

There’s no hotshot kid in the farm system drafted three or four years ago just for this moment, no one on the major league roster ready to slide into Williams’ slot, no trade for a big-time center fielder on the table, no great free agent available to take over the job.

What the Yankees have is Bubba Crosby, a good fielder whose bat is woefully inadequate to the job of taking over the hallowed ground once patrolled by Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Bobby Murcer, Mickey Rivers and Bernie Williams.

What they don’t have is Torii Hunter, the premier center fielder the Minnesota Twins would gladly give the Yankees for the two best young players New York has — pitcher Chien Ming Wang and second baseman Robinson Cano. They also aren’t getting Johnny Damon, the Boston free agent who is a great in the lead-off spot but whose arm isn’t any better than Williams’.

They’ve talked about trading for Brian Giles, who isn’t a center fielder. There are also rumblings about getting Juan Pierre — great speed, good bat, mediocre arm — from the Florida Marlins or Joey Gathright from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, except they don’t have the price in prospects to pay for Gathright. The Yankees are so desperate, they’ve even considered Milton “Bad Chemistry” Bradley.

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And now they’re thinking about moving either a gold-glove shortstop or a gold-glove-to-be third baseman — the absolute strength of their defense — to fill the gap they failed to notice they would have.

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