Yankees In Market For Fielder Replacement

Chili Davis to the New York Yankees?

The Yankees are in the market for a designated hitter since Cecil Fielder broke his thumb in a game Tuesday against the Cleveland Indians. Fielder will have surgery and might miss the rest of the season.

“We’ve had a couple of clubs who called about Chili Davis and wanted to know his availability,” general manager Herk Robinson said Thursday.

Although Robinson declined to identify the clubs, the Yankees were known to be one of them.

Davis is hitting well for the Royals with 15 homers, 51 RBIs and a .301 average.

Yet Davis’ future with the Royals is cloudy. Robinson has not discussed a 1998 contract with him. One reason: At this point, the Royals don’t even know whether they’ll need a DH because they might move to the National League.

“I’m not certain what league we’ll be in,” Robinson said.

The Yankees also reportedly have interest in Mark McGwire of the Oakland A’s, Gregg Jefferies of the Philadelphia Phillies, Dante Bichette of the Colorado Rockies and Bernard Gilkey of the New York Mets.

McGwire, if the A’s trade him, wants to play in Southern California. The Anaheim Angels’ ardor for McGwire is waning, according to newspaper reports Thursday.

The trading deadline is July 31.