Good news for the guys down who have been monitoring the Yankees minor league complex down in Tampa the past few days. Today was looking like a slow day, but nothing fills up the notebook quite like the owner stopping to talk for a few minutes.

^[2]• The Yankees have had a “conversation or two” about extending Robinson Cano, ^[3]and Steinbrenner expects the team to truly address it “at a later date.” As I’ve said all along, I still think — just a guess — that the Yankees will eventually sign Cano to another long-term deal. How they’ll make it work with the financial plan going forward, I don’t know, but I still think they’ll sign him and try to save money elsewhere.

• Regarding the Alex Rodriguez situation, Steinbrenner said there’s “concern” ^[4]but repeated the company line about the situation being in the hands of the league at this point.

• Steinbrenner said the same thing Brian Cashman has been saying: The Yankees are still in the market for a right-handed outfielder, ^[5]and they could keep looking for one through spring training.

• Manny Banuelos told reporters, including the recently arrived Dan Barbarisi, that he’s started playing catch. ^[6]Banuelos is coming off Tommy John surgery.