The New York Yankees and New York Mets are unlikely to conclude negotiations with Japanese free-agent slugger Hideki Matsui until the major league's ongoing winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn., are over, a local daily reported Saturday.
According to the New York Post, Matsui's agent Arn Tellem met with both teams again Friday but "all indications are the negotiations are in their infancy and will not be concluded until these (winter) meetings are over."
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Sun said Tellem, who started negotiations with both New York teams on Thursday, also spoke by telephone with the Baltimore Orioles, "who still feel they are in the running" for the 28-year-old outfielder and "were hoping to talk some more this weekend."
The Boston Red Sox have also expressed interest in Matsui, the three-time Central League MVP who became a free agent after winning the home run and RBI titles and helping the Yomiuri Giants to the league and Japan Series crowns this year.