Yankees, Mets make splash at winter meetings

Omar Minaya stepped out of a ballroom, bumped into Dave Dombrowski and received a hearty handshake from the Detroit Tigers general manager.

“Hey, Omar! Congratulations! You’re knocking ’em over,” Dombrowski said.

It helps to come in from the Big Apple carrying all those bucks.

As baseball’s winter meetings broke up Thursday in Las Vegas, the two New York teams went home big winners. Highlighting a hectic week, the Yankees landed pitching prize CC Sabathia, while Minaya and the Mets upgraded their maligned bullpen with All-Star relievers Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz.

“There was no way that I thought I would be able to come here and get both those guys,” Mets general manager Minaya said. “I think our goals have been met.”

While teams and agents cleared out quickly following the Rule 5 draft of minor leaguers, San Diego GM Kevin Towers said the Chicago Cubs pulled out of the Jake Peavy sweepstakes.

Several small-market clubs struck quiet deals, however.

Kansas City and reliever Kyle Farnsworth reached a preliminary agreement on a $9.25 million, two-year contract. The deal was pending a physical, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been finalized.

The Royals also agreed to one-year contracts with pitchers Horacio Ramirez ($1.8 million) and Doug Waechter ($640,000).

Minnesota retained versatile infielder Nick Punto with an $8.5 million, two-year deal.

The Arizona Diamondbacks reached a preliminary agreement with infielder Felipe Lopez on a $3.5 million, one-year contract. The deal was pending a physical.

Speculation had the Boston Red Sox as front-runners for free-agent slugger Mark Teixeira, thought to have received offers of about $150 million or more. Manny Ramirez was still available, too.

After the Yankees and Sabathia agreed Wednesday to the framework of a $161 million, seven-year contract, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe are the top free-agent starters still searching for work.

Burnett could command a deal worth at least $80 million. He was told the Yankees would be prepared to give him five guaranteed years – matching the length of Atlanta’s offer.

The Yankees and Mets both expect an economic boost when they move into new ballparks next season. Minaya secured Rodriguez with a $37 million, three-year contract and acquired Putz from Seattle in a three-team, 12-player trade.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman left Las Vegas early in the day and planned a pit stop before going home. He traveled to Texas to meet with Andy Pettitte as New York tries to re-sign the veteran left-hander.

The Yankees also renewed talks this week with Milwaukee about a possible trade that would send Melky Cabrera to the Brewers in a deal for center fielder Mike Cameron.

As for Ramirez, the N.L. West champion Los Angeles Dodgers made an offer to the free-agent slugger this fall but haven’t heard whether he’ll accept it.

In other moves, infielder Wilson Betemit and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a one-year, $1.3 million contract and the Texas Rangers acquired right-handed reliever Beau Vaughan from Boston to complete a previous trade and signed pitchers Brian Gordon and Joe Torres to minor league contracts.