NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Brian Cashman left the winter meetings Monday without the starting pitcher he hoped to get.

The New York Yankees' general manager held more talks with Montreal GM Omar Minaya about acquiring Bartolo Colon, and he also spoke with Roger Clemens' agents about keeping the pitcher in pinstripes.

"There are things I'm trying to accomplish,'' Cashman said before leaving the Opryland Hotel. "We keep working away. Sometimes these things take longer.''

In exchange for Colon, Minaya asked the Yankees for pitcher Orlando Hernandez, first baseman Nick Johnson, outfielder Juan Rivera, another prospect and money to pay Hernandez's salary, a baseball official said on condition of anonymity.

The Yankees haven't made a counteroffer to the Expos and Montreal has not formally changed its request.

"We're trying to find a way to bridge the gap,'' Minaya said. "There's a difference of opinion on the value of my players.''

Minaya is also talking to the Yankees' biggest rivals, the Boston Red Sox, which could put more pressure on Cashman to make a deal for Colon.

Minaya asked Boston for pitcher Casey Fossum, third baseman Shea Hillenbrand and another player, according to a second baseball official.

If the Yankees get Colon, Cashman has said they would cut off negotiations with the 40-year-old Clemens.

The six-time Cy Young Award winner is seven victories shy of 300 and wants to stay with New York. He went 13-6 with a 4.35 ERA last season and was limited to 29 starts because of injuries.

"We'll do something only if it meets my two criteria -- reducing payroll and improving the ballclub,'' Cashman said.

New York already has Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, David Wells, Jeff Weaver and Sterling Hitchcock under contract, making it unlikely they would add two more top starters.

Manager Joe Torre has said he doesn't want a repeat of last year when he had to fit six or seven starters into five spots, forcing an experienced starter to move to the bullpen.

"They could do both,'' Clemens' agent Randy Hendricks said. "They say they probably won't, but you never know with the Yankees. They may have the most interesting bullpen of all-time.''

Hendricks said the two sides are only 10 percent apart on a deal, but Cashman wouldn't characterize the talks.

"We've had good discussions,'' Cashman said. "He's educated us and we've educated them on what's important to both sides.''

If Clemens does not re-sign with the Yankees, he would probably talk to the Red Sox, New York Mets and Texas Rangers.

It would be very intriguing if Clemens returned to Boston, where he pitched from 1984-96. Boston's fans have viewed him as a traitor ever since he orchestrated the deal to the Yankees in 1999.

"We touched base,'' Hendricks said. "We probably have a lot of hurdles to get over to get there.''