NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The New York Yankees are mulling an offer from the Montreal Expos for Bartolo Colon in a deal that could lead to the end of Roger Clemens' career in pinstripes.

	Roger Clemens Starting pitcher Free agent Profile
	2002 SEASON STATISTICS GM IP W-L BB SO ERA 29 180 13-6 63 192 4.35

Expos general manager Omar Minaya made Yankees GM Brian Cashman an offer Sunday on what it would take for New York to acquire Colon.

"I know what he wants from us," Cashman said. "I'm trying to see if I can adjust what he wants. There's potential there to have something happen. There are also hurdles like in any discussion."

Neither Cashman nor Minaya would reveal what the offer was. But a baseball source with knowledge of the talks said on condition of anonymity that the Expos asked for first baseman Nick Johnson, outfielder Juan Rivera, starter Orlando Hernandez and a prospect. The Yankees would also have to pay Hernandez's salary in that deal.

The Boston Red Sox are the other team in the hunt for Colon. The Expos are asking for pitcher Casey Fossum, third baseman Shea Hillenbrand and another player, according to a second baseball official.

"We're not that close on anybody," Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said.

In an afternoon meeting, Cashman tried to determine if Minaya was flexible on any of the details in the trade.

"I think I know how to get to my target number," Minaya said. "How I get there? There are so many different ways."

The deal would help the Expos reduce payroll and meet their budget for next season.

"I'm encouraged," Minaya said. "But I've been around long to know it takes time. We're closer to doing a deal that works for both teams. That being said, sometimes these things work out out of the blue."

If the two teams agree to a deal, Cashman said he would cut off negotiations with Clemens, who is hoping to win his 300th game in a Yankees uniform.

"I think this is maybe coming to a head, because they might want to make a decision soon one way or another," said Clemens' agent, Randy Hendricks said.

"We've been talking about this since the day the season ended. It's been going on for a couple of months. It's not like we don't know each other's position."

Hendricks said the two sides have exchanged offers and they are not far apart. While Clemens would prefer to remain with the Yankees, Hendricks said he's willing to negotiate with other teams.

"If he does not sign with the Yankees, we'd be interested in the Rangers," Hendricks said.

Clemens also could be interested in rejoining the Boston Red Sox, the team he won three Cy Young Awards with from 1984-96, or the New York Mets, a team he has feuded with since beaning Mike Piazza more than two years ago.

"There will be a lot of interest in Roger," Hendricks said. "We've taken calls but we said our primary interest is staying with the Yankees. If he doesn't, we'll take other calls. We're not worried about him not getting a job."

Cashman met with Hendricks and his brother, Alan, on Sunday night.

"We're still trying to find a middle ground," Cashman said. "He's on record as saying he would accept less to be a Yankee. The question is how much less."

Clemens went 13-6 with a 4.35 ERA last season, as injuries limited him to 29 starts. He has 293 career wins and getting to 300 is an important goal of his.

The Yankees already have starters Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, David Wells, Jeff Weaver, Orlando Hernandez and Sterling Hitchcock under contract and aren't desperate to make a move.

"We have various choices with our club," Cashman said. "That's good. It gives us a comfort level, call it leverage. We're not in a situation where we have to do something."