Because Curtis Granderson rejected the Yankees’ qualifying offer of $14.1 million doesn’t mean his career in The Bronx is finished.
Far from it.
According to Brian Cashman, the left-handed hitting outfielder remains a big part of their offseason efforts to get the Yankees back into the postseason.
“He is a serious part,’’ the general manager told The Post on the way out of Yankee Stadium on Wednesday. “We remain interested. He is not a [fall-back] option.’’
Granderson hasn’t been mentioned as frequently regarding the Yankees as fellow free-agent outfielders Carlos Beltran and Shin Soo-Choo. However, the left-handed hitting Granderson who turns 33 in March, might be the best fit.
One, he has played four years for the Yankees, so he wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the pressures of performing in The Bronx.
Two, he combined to hit 84 homers and drive in 225 runs in 2011 and 2012 before two fractures limited him to 61 games this past season.
Granderson whiffing 364 times in 2011 and 2012 is a drawback, but his swing plays well in Yankee Stadium.
With Brett Gardner firmly entrenched in center field, should Granderson return to the Yankees he would play right field. That would turn Ichiro Suzuki into a part-time player or trade bait.
After an early report had the White Sox interested in the Chicago native and the Mets expressing some interest, reports linking Granderson to teams have been sparse.
He made $15 million this past season, when he batted .229 with seven homers and 15 at-bats. He suffered a fractured right wrist in his first spring training at-bat and fractured the left pinkie in late May.
Since any team other than the Yankees signing Granderson would lose a draft pick, he might not have as many choices as he would if he wasn’t tied to the pick.
The Giants giving Hunter Pence a five-year deal for $90 million ($18 million per-year average) has set the market so far for outfielders.
Whatever direction the Yankees take with Granderson, they aren’t going to wait for the sake of waiting on free agents.
One day after club president Randy Levine said the Yankees wouldn’t wait for anybody, including Robinson Cano, Cashman refused to buy into the belief free agency is in the infancy stage.
“I wouldn’t say that,’’ Cashman said when asked if it was too early to formulate what will happen. “Players are coming off the board and we are fully engaged in the market.’’
Because the Red Sox are hot for Beltran and the ultra-patient Scott Boras represents Choo, the Yankees and Granderson could reach a deal if each side likes what they hear.
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The Yankees acquired infielder Dean Anna from the Padres on Wednesday in exchange for RHP Ben Paullus. Anna was added to the major league roster, along with RHP Jose Campos, RHP Shane Greene, OF Slade Heathcott, RHP Bryan Mitchell and C Gary Sanchez.