(My Sportsbook) - The Yankees got a jump on the MLB trading deadline on Tuesday evening when they dealt disgruntled outfielder Raul Mondesi to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Mondesi, who has been upset with his role in recent weeks, did not travel with the Yankees as they began a three-game series in Anaheim on Tuesday, although he did eventually make his own way to the west coast.

He is hitting .258 with 16 home runs and 49 runs batted in this season, but had lost playing time in a crowded Yankee outfield/designated hitter rotation and was upset when he was pinch-hit for in Sunday's loss to Boston.

"After he was pinch-hit for by Joe Torre, he decided he was going to shut it down, shower up and leave," said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. "That's what made Joe Torre and I to decide on another venue for Raul. At that point, we were pointing in two different directions and weren't on the same page.

"He plays hard when he's between the white lines, no one questions that. But he also has to respect the manager's decisions, even though he disagrees with them."

Now the question remains, what is the next move for the Bronx Bombers? With the Red Sox acquiring reliever Scott Williamson from the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, will the Yanks go out and add yet another reliever to a bullpen that has been the team's Achilles' heel all season?

A better question, though, is what will they do out in right field? If anyone thinks that the team is going to go to war with a right field platoon of Karim Garcia and Ruben Sierra they are sorely mistaken.

Owner George Steinbrenner summoned his inner circle to Tampa on Wednesday to discuss such moves.

Pittsburgh outfielder Brian Giles is available and has been the object of the Yankees' affection for years, but he has a no-trade clause and reportedly wants to go to his hometown San Diego Padres.

Juan Gonzalez can also be had, but getting him to waive his no-trade clause has been a problem. Gonzalez, who stopped a trade to the Montreal Expos earlier in the season, also blocked a deal that would have sent him to the Bronx a few years ago.

The Yankees have been chasing Reds reliever Gabe White all season and could be tempted to put a package together for both the lefthander and outfielder Jose Guillen, who is also available.

Either way the Yankees should be big players as the trade deadline draws to a close on Thursday.

WHO'S HOT

Derek Jeter is 7-for-his-last 14 and has raised his average to a team-leading .325.

WHO'S NOT

Alfonso Soriano is just 2-for-20 in his last four games and his seen his average fall to .281.

COMING UP

After closing their three-game set with the Anaheim Angels on Thursday, New York will head to Oakland for a three-game series with the Athletics at Network Associates Coliseum.