While he put on his best tap-dancing shows while answering questions regarding whether or not his club would acquire Barry Bonds, New York Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman essentially said he would not pursue the former Giant.

So when Cashman was asked on Friday if he had talked with Jeff Borris, the agent for Barry Bonds, he
quickly amended his instinctive response.

“I wouldn’t say,” Cashman said, before waiting a moment and answering definitively. “I have not. I don’t want to take this down the wrong path.”

That was as close as Cashman came to saying, unequivocally, that the Yankees would not pursue Bonds, the career home run leader. Bonds is dogged by legal issues but still hopes to play this season.

The Yankees discussed Bonds, among many other topics, at their organizational meeting Thursday in Tampa, Fla..

After signing former Mariners’ first basemen Richie Sexson and acquiring outfielder Xavier Nady from Pittsburgh, it wouldn’t make much sense for the Yankees to toy with Bonds. Still, the fact that Cashman didn’t openly deny that the Yankees would sign Bonds makes you wonder if the GM has something up his sleeve.