Yankees have decided Davis will be staying put By JACK O'CONNELL Courant Staff Writer FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. His name made the papers on a regular basis in the off-season. Russ Davis for Bryan Harvey. Russ Davis for Andy Benes. Those were some of the trade talks in which Davis was mentioned. But Yankees general manager Gene Michael put an "untouchable" label on Davis, the organization's top prospect whose progis stifled by All-Star third baseman Wade Boggs. Davis, 24, appears ready for the majors after a season with Triple A Columbus in which he batted .255, with 26 home runs and 83 RBI. The problem is his position. Boggs, who returned to form in 1993 (.302, 59 RBI, 83 runs) has two seasons left on his three-year, $11 million contract. "[The trade rumors] bothered me at the time," Davis said Friday. "It got old. I'm happy that's over. I It did make feel like wanted property, that the Yankees think enough of me to hold on to me for the future. "I know who's ahead of me. I've known all along, but I'm looking forward to the experience of this camp." So what to do with Davis? The Yankees resisted the urge to trade him over the winter. That he seems blocked by Boggs had other GMs on the phone frequently with Michael. Talks with the Marlins about Harvey and with the Padres about Benes were the most serious, but those teams wanted pitching prospects in addition to Davis. "When you're talking about [acquiring] players who can become free agents after one season, you can't mortgage the future," Michael said. Michael and manager Buck Showalter considered using Davis this year as a backup to Boggs and first baseman Don Mattingly, and as an occasional designated hitter. That plan is no longer in place. It will take a blockbuster exhibition season for Davis to earn a major league job. He opened plenty of eyes last spring, hitting .381 with two d doubles, one home run and six RBI in 21 at-bats over 11 The Yankees got him out of games. major league camp before they became too tempted to keep him. Now there's a good chance Davis has to make a repeat showing at Columbus. "I think about making this team every day," Davis said. "I grew up dreaming about playing in the big leagues. I'm from a small town [Hueytown, Ala.]. When I tell everyone I'm playing for the Yankees, they all say, 'Wow,' because everyone thinks the Yankees are just great.' "We need to do what's best for Russell and what's best for the Yankees," Showalter said, indicating they may not be the same thing. "Russell has a chance to make our team, but won't do anything to hamper his development or progress. For a player in his situation, I'd pretty much have to figure a way for him to get about 400 at-bats before I could consider keeping him." With Danny Tartabull slated as fulltime DH and catcher-infielder Jim Leyritz a reserve first baseman, Davis' value is diminished. Keeping him merely to back up Boggs, the Yankees' most durable player last season (143 games), doesn't make sense, particularly since the Yankees have Randy Velarde, Mike Gallego and Dave Silvestri in the infield. "I have every intention of making the team," Davis said. "I know it'll be tough, but it's up to me. I've got to show them." That still may not be e enough. Good sign from Perez Righthander Melido Perez, who had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the offseason, gave up a wind-aided home run by Robert Eenhoorn and one other hit in two innings of an intrasquad game. "It was an encouraging outing by Melido," Showalter said. . . . . .. Silvestri also homered, off lefthander Sterling Hitchcock. .. The Yankees made their first cuts, optioning righthander Mariano Duncan to Double A Albany-Colonie and assigning righthander Matt Drews and catchers Tom Wilson and Kiki Hernandez to the minor league camp in Tampa. The moves reduced the number of players in the big league camp to 47.
