When asked Tuesday whether he would consider such an offer, Tartabull said: "It's not even a consideration." Earlier, Tartabull had said of such a possibility: "I don't think that's fair to me."
It is extremely unlikely that a player would negotiate his salary downward, no matter how unhappy. In Tartabull's case, his current salary probably exceeds his worth by more than double, so he might have to return millions to spark a deal.
Tartabull's five-year, $25.5 million contract calls for him to make $5.3 million this year and $5 million next year. He is batting .217 with three home runs, 15 RBI and 32 strikeouts in 115 at-bats.
On rare occasions, generous players in slumps have offered to return part of their salaries. The request made of Tartabull is different in that the returned money would be used to entice someone else to take him.
While the Yankees have offered in past talks with Kansas City and California to pay $2 million of Tartabull's contract, baseball's Executive Council has issued a memo disallowing teams from paying more than $1 million in player moves from June 1 until season's end, "whether the player is coming or going," said Bill Murray, the majors' executive director for baseball operations.
Because New York can't pay more than $1 million to trade Tartabull now, the only apparent ways to trade him would be for the player to take a lower salary or for the Yankees to take an equally overpriced player in return.
Indians 11, Orioles 0. In Cleveland, Dennis Martinez kept his record perfect at 6-0, throwing his second shutout in three starts, and Jim Thome and Albert Belle homered as Cleveland won for the 10th time in 11 games.
Playing before 41,927 fans, the largest crowd ever at Jacobs Field, the Indians improved baseball's best record to 32-11.
Yankees 10, Tigers 4. In Detroit, Mike Stanley hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs for New York, with owner George Steinbrenner watching from a seat behind the dugout.
Jack McDowell (2-4) snapped a career-worst string of eight straight starts without a victory.
Red Sox 11, Blue Jays 7. In Toronto, Mike Greenwell, who also homered, was taken off the field in a medical vehicle in the seventh inning after he crashed head first into the left field wall chasing a Roberto Alomar triple.
Other AL scores were Brewers 14, Rangers 2, and White Sox 7, Athletics 6 in 10 innings.
Expos 11, Braves 2. In Montreal, rookie Carlos Perez, who leads the National League with a 1.88 earned run average, allowed two runs in seven innings as Montreal routed Atlanta.
Perez (6-1), brother of Yankees pitcher Melido Perez and former major leaguer Pascual Perez, had seven strikeouts, gave up six hits and walked two.
In other NL games, it was Cardinals 3, Padres 2; Rockies 6, Reds 4; Astros 6, Phillies 5; Dodgers 5, Pirates 3; Mets 7, Marlins 3; and Giants 8, Cubs 4.
(Newsday, AP)
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