New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman thanked Gary Sheffield for volunteering to switch from the outfield to third base, but declined the offer, Newsday reported Thursday.

"It's awesome that he stepped up, but it's not being considered at this time," Cashman told Newsday. "I think it's great that he'd do that. It's a great gesture. He sees the team has a need and he volunteers to plug it. A terrific message."

Sheffield, acquired this off-season, told the Yankees he would play third base this season if necessary, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday.

The Yankees will need a third baseman after Aaron Boone suffered a torn knee ligament while playing a basketball game. Boone is expected to miss the entire 2004 season.

Sheffield, who has been an outfielder since 1994, told Yankees GM Brian Cashman he is willing to return to third base, where he played for 466 games from 1990-92, the newspaper reported.

Infielder Tyler Houston and outfielder Darren Bragg agreed to minor league contracts with the New York Yankees.

Houston’s deal was agreed to last week, after the Yankees learned that Boone was injured.

Houston, 33, hit .278 with two homers and 14 RBIs last year with Philadelphia. He would get a $900,000, one-year contract if he is added to New York’s roster. If he isn’t added to the roster by April 1 and asks to be released, New York must grant his request.

His agreement with New York was first reported Wednesday by Newsday.

The Yankees also have Drew Henson, Enrique Wilson, Miguel Cairo and Erick Almonte as third-base possibilities, and they could try to trade for a veteran such as Adrian Beltre of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Yankees have not discussed a buyout with Henson, one baseball official told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The former Michigan quarterback has struggled in the minor leagues since signing a $17 million, six-year contract with the Yankees in 2001.

Bragg, 34, batted .241 with no homers and nine RBIs in 162 at-bats with Atlanta last season. He spent a brief part of the 2001 season with the Yankees, going 1-for-4 in five games.

He would get a $400,000, one-year contract if he is added to the 40-man roster. If he isn’t added to the major league roster by July 1, the Yankees must release Bragg if he asks to be let go.

While the Yankees did not announce the agreements, they were confirmed to the AP by a pair of baseball sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

New York also is negotiating with 34-year-old left-hander Donovan Osborne. He was released by the Mets last March and didn’t pitch in the major leagues in 2003.

Oscar Acosta, a former Cubs pitching coach, is to become the new manager of the Gulf Coast League Yankees.

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