Steinbrenner: “Never Say Never” On Yankees Signing Kendrys Morales

Sep 4, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Seattle Mariners designated hitter Kendrys Morales (8) hits a 2 run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

In light of Mark Teixeira’s nagging wrist injury, Yankees’ owner Hal Steinbrenner was asked on Thursday about the possibility the team would pursue free agent first baseman Kendrys Morales:

"“We never say never, we always look at all possibilities. Right now we are doing it from within and I think Tex is going to be okay, but anything is possible.’’ (New York Post)"

Teixeira was in the Yankees’ lineup Friday for the first time since Sunday and has played in just 35 of the Yankees’ 53 games this season. According to the New York Post, he visited Doctor Keith Raskin on Thursday — the same doctor who performed the surgery on Teixeira’s wrist last July — who told him “the hinge was sore because of inflammation, not structural damage.”

Morales spent the first six seasons of his career in Los Angeles with the Angels before playing one season (last season) with the Seattle Mariners.

A career .280 hitter, Morales hit 23 home runs and drove in 80 runs last year. His best season came in 2009 with the Angels, when he had career-highs in home runs (34), batting average (.306), and runs batted in (106).

Morales’s agent, Scott Boras, took to the Post to promote his client.

"“As you would expect the need for switch-hitters is there. And he can play first base.’’"

If the Yankees were to sign Morales prior to June 7 (the final day of the 2014 MLB Draft), they would lose a draft pick. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Milwaukee Brewers are also interested in Morales.