TAMPA, Fla. - New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman has no plans to discuss contract extensions with any of his players anytime soon. That includes third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who has a clause in his contract that allows him to opt out after this season.

Cashman first made that clear in an interview with SI.com, then reiterated his stance in a phone interview Wednesday.

“We're not talking extensions with anybody,” Cashman said.

From Cashman's view, Rodriguez already has a contract that continues through the 2010 season. If he is not ready to extend Mariano Rivera, whose contract expires after the 2007 season, or Jorge Posada, whose contract includes a 2008 player option with a team buyout, then why tack on years for Rodriguez?

“He's got a significant contract,” Cashman said. “He negotiated an opt-out in that contract, and he has the right to do that if he chooses. We hope he doesn't. We hope he stays. He has a decision at the end of the year, not the Yankees.”

To illustrate Cashman's point, Rodriguez has more money remaining on the 10-year, $252-million contract he signed with the Texas Rangers in December 2000 than any other Yankee has left on his contract. Rodriguez is due $27 million in each of the next four seasons, with the Rangers picking up $28.4 million of that ($7.1 million this season, $8.1 million in 2008, $7.1 million in 2009 and $6.1 million in 2010). He is also owed a significant amount of deferred money, mainly by the Rangers, but not until after his current contract expires.

With the escalation of salaries this offseason, there has been much speculation that Rodriguez - a two-time American League Most Valuable Player who will turn 32 in July - could gain even more money by opting out of his contract. Alfonso Soriano, 31, received an eight-year, $136-million contract from the Chicago Cubs. Barry Zito got a seven-year, $126-million contract from the San Francisco Giants. Vernon Wells signed a seven-year, $126-million extension with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Rodriguez has outperformed all three regularly in his career.

Last week, Rodriguez said on WFAN Radio: “The last thing I'm going to do is to run away from New York, say New York is too tough. I have an option at the end of the year, and we'll see what happens after that. If I go out and have four years in New York, win two MVPs and one World Series, I think that's a pretty good job.”

Rodriguez said in an interview last week that he wants to stay in New York � percent,” but also acknowledged that Yankee fans and management would have a part to play in that decision. He said: “The next time we're going to talk about this is hopefully in very late October. I want to be here. I want to stay here.”

Cashman hopes that Rodriguez does indeed want to remain a Yankee. However, he does not plan to offer any extra enticements to ensure that is the case.

“We're worried about the '07 team,” Cashman said Wednesday. “He's got a contract past '07, so that's basically that. There's nothing more to read into it.”

The Yankees have little motivation to tear up Rodriguez's current contract, given that the Rangers are paying so much of it.

No one but Rodriguez can truly say if he wants to or plans to opt out of his contract next winter. His words last week indicated he wants to remain a Yankee, but that was not set in stone. Aside from the money, the idea of moving back to his natural position of shortstop if he left could be intriguing to Rodriguez.

But as Cashman said, it's up to Rodriguez, not the Yankees.