The Yankees have "made a significant offer" to Robinson Cano in order to keep him from hitting the free agent market after the 2013 season.

While it was clear the offer had not been accepted, Brian Cashman would not say whether it had been rejected or was still being considered.

"We've made a significant offer. That's what I thought Hal [Steinbrenner] said to everybody," Cashman said. "I'm not going to comment anymore. I thought Hal announced that we made a significant offer. And we've had a few conversations. I thought I was restating Hal's stuff. If I said a little more, that's all I'm saying."

The Yankees plan to reduce their payroll significantly for the 2014 season, but Michael Weiner doesn't buy the claim.

Hal Steinbrenner has said that the team wants to get under the $189 million luxury tax threshold. That means the player payroll would have to be about $178 million at most, since the total for the tax will include at least $11 million in benefits such as the pension plan.

"I can't say it concerns me," Weiner, the players' association head said. "I imagine that Mr. Steinbrenner is sincere when he says that, but like a lot of things, I'll believe it when I see it."

New York has paid $224.6 million in luxury tax since the current system began in 2003, including $19.3 million for 2012.

Despite their possible need for an outfielder, the Yankees will not pursue signing Johnny Damon.

"It's just not something we're going to pursue," Brian Cashman said when asked if the team could use Damon as a short-term replacement for the injured Curtis Granderson.

Damon lobbied for the job on ESPN New York 98.7 FM's "The Michael Kay Show" on Monday.

"Have me for six weeks and send me on my merry way," he said.

"He's just not going to fit our needs," Cashman said. "It's the same reason we didn't bring him in last year. We need somebody who can play the outfield every day."

If Manny Ramirez doesn't sign with a Major League team by March 7, he will play for a team in Taiwan.

Ramirez said that the EDA Rhinos of the China Professional Baseball League established March 7 as the deadline for a final decision.

"I will play in Taiwan if I cannot get work in the U.S. by that deadline," he said. "It will be a new experience, to experience another culture while I keep doing what I love and what I've done in all my life, playing baseball."

Zack Greinke has done something rarely seen in professional sports, admitted that free agency is all about the money.

He signed a six-year, $147 million deal with the Dodgers this offseason.

"It's obviously the No. 1 thing," Greinke said. "I could play for the worst team if they paid the most ... If the last place team offers $200 million and the first-place team offers $10, I'm going to go for the $200-million no matter what team it was."

The Dodgers and Rangers were the final teams in the running for his services. Greinke gave the Rangers a chance to sign him, according to sources. Texas ultimately decided not to beat or match L.A.'s offer.

With Curtis Granderson out until May with a broken forearm, Johnny Damon wants to sign with the Yankees.

Damon is willing to play just the five or so weeks of the regular season that Granderson will miss and would even take a league-minimum contract to return to the Bronx.

"You guys know that I would have tons of interest to go to New York," Damon told ESPN 98.7 host Michael Kay. "But I just don't think they would be interested. I'm not exactly sure what happened over the years or something. They have had plenty of opportunities and I kept raising my hand, wanting to go back and, you know, hopefully it would be a perfect fit. It always had been. Have me for six weeks and then send me off on my merry way. That's fine."

Damon played four seasons for the Yankees, winning a World Series in 2009.

There is a chance that Jim Thome could return for another tenure with the Twins.

Minnesota had a conversation with Thome's camp about a month ago, according to a person with knowledge of discussions. Those talks could pick up again.

Thome, 42, played 179 games with the Twins from the start of the 2010 season through August of 2011, batting .266 with 37 homers and 99 RBI.

An American League general manager has predicted that Texas has the best chance of landing free-agent pitcher Kyle Lohse.

"The Rangers probably have the best shot at obtaining him," the GM said. "They missed out on a couple of guys. While you don't want to overpay or give him an extended contract, they seem to be the most motivated to get a deal done with him."

The Tigers are still looking for a right-handed outfielder to platoon with Andy Dirks in left field, but they are expected to do so internally.

"We like our team the way it is," assistant general manager Al Avila said. "We think internally, as we sit today, that's the best option."

It appears as though Detroit has seven candidates for the job -- Brennan Boesch, Jeff Kobernus, Quintin Berry, Don Kelly, Danny Worth, Avisail Garcia and Nick Castellanos.

"From what we've got internally, we can make it work," Avila said. "But, you have to let the games start and see how your team comes together."

Brian Cashman claims that the contract the Yankees gave to Alex Rodriguez after the 2007 season won't impact talks with Robinson Cano on a long-term deal.

Rodriguez received a 10-year, $275 million contract, an agreement that Cashman wasn't in favor of at the time.

The Yankees have opened negotiations with Cano's agent, Scott Boras, in the hope of cutting a deal before the second baseman hits free agency in the fall.

"There's only so much you can spend, but we'll look at Robbie as an individual, not as it relates to whatever we're doing with Alex Rodriguez and our commitment and the regression we have experienced with Alex," Cashman said on ESPN Radio.

"[Cano] is a tremendous player, one of the best players in the game, and via free agency there will be a select number of teams that will have interest in him. I can't say everybody, because the contract demands that he'll have will eliminate a number of teams right off the bat. But every team would want a Robinson Cano on it. How many teams can afford a Robinson Cano, we'll see."