Yankees and Dbacks "no conversation today"

According to a report this morning by Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, the Yankees were unwilling to part with RHP Joba Chamberlain in a trade for pitching ace Dan Haren of the Dbacks while having to pay Haren's total contract. However, the Yankees would be willing to pay Haren's contract if Chamberlain were not involved in the package. The Yankees are willing to include pitchers Ivan Nova and Zach McAllister plus two prospects in a trade for Haren, that being the only way the Yankees would pay the contract.

As well, Heyman said that the Dbacks were trying to get the Yankees to take on pitcher Chad Qualls and catcher Chris Snyder in addition to Haren. The Yankees balked, especially since they would have to pay the $33 million for Haren on top of Qualls' and Snyder's contracts.

However, the most recent report, that by ESPN's Buster Olney, says that the two sides have not talked today about a deal and that the Yankees were "scoffed at reports that they were in the lead of the Haren negotiations because they have never been close to completing a deal to this point.”

Nonetheless, negotiations are said to continue later. Riveraveblues says that "right now, the two clubs are playing a game of poker, and the negotiations will continue.

While listening to WFAN 660 today in the car, I was able to hear former Washington Nationals' GM Jim Bowden's segment with Steve Somers. Bowden said that it's "almost certain" that Danny Haren will be a Yankee.