The Yankees and Orioles are among teams considering free agent pitcher Edwin Jackson, who's still looking for a home despite having youth and durability on his side.

The Yankees are telling folks they don't want to do more than a one- or two-year deal for free agents, as they seem to be serious about their intention to push their payroll down below the luxury tax threshhold in 2014, thereby reducing their tax from 50 percent to 17 percent and allowing them to resume their free-spending ways after '14. They seem pretty serious about that stance, so unless Jackson would continue a shorter deal, he would seem to have to look elsewhere. The Yankees could look at Hiroki Kuroda ad Roy Oswalt, but there's a question about whther Kuroda wants to play aywhere but Los Angeles in the states and the Yankees don't seem as interested in Oswalt at the moment.

New Orioles GM Dan Duquette seems to save saved some money for late i the winter and is talking to several pitchers and some outfield and leadoff candidates. Jackson, 27, is the best young free agent starter remaining. He fits the Orioles better than Oswalt or Kuroda because those two pitchers are considerably older.

Jackson is said to be seeking $15-to-17 million annually while Kuroda and Oswalt are thought to be looking for $13-to-14 million.

Jackson's selling point is his age (28 now) and ability to take the ball. He is one of only three pitchers 27 or younger who's started more tha 30 games each of the past five years, with the others being Matt Cain and Felix Hernandez. Even if you push it to pitchers under 30 who've done that, James Shields and Justin Verlander are the only two added to that short list. What works against Jackson is a career 60-60 record and 4.46 ERA, though a rookie year in Tampa when he was 5-15 with a 5.76 ERA skews those lifetime marks.

The Yankees desperately seek a No. 2 starter, and fortunately for them, there are still many viable alternatives available on the trade and free agent markets.

But ultimately, the choice could come down to Matt Garza or Edwin Jackson.

The Yankees' like Hiroki Kuroda, but there is no certainty he wants to pitch in New York. They do not appear to be in on the Jair Jurrjens trade discussions, nor even the Wandy Rodriguez or Gavin Floyd talks. And they haven't seemed anxious to go for Roy Oswalt.

That could leave Garza vs. E-Jax.

They like both pitchers. But so far the Yankees don't like the cost for Garza in terms of prospects, and they don't love the price tag for Jackson, either. The Cubs surely would like some combination of Jesus Montero, Manuel Banuelos and Dellin Betances for Garza. Jackson's asking price is said by sources to be about $60 million for five years.

The Yankees so far would like to keep new contracts to one or two years, as they are hopeful of getting below the $189-million luxury tax treshhold in 2014. If they stuck to that, that would make signing Jackson very difficult.

The Yankees like Jackson's arm, his potential and his durability. But they wonder about his consistency. He is one of only three active pitchers 27 or younger with more than 30 games started each of the past five years, the other two being Matt Cain and Felix Hernandez. He is also one of only three age 27 or younger to have thrown 950 innings with no D.L. time the last five years. The others? Cain and Tim Lincecum.

Michael Cuddyer, who has agreed to a $31.5-million, three-year deal with the Rockies, was the team’s top target this winter for obvious reasons. He is the righthanded hitter they seek. He is also the great clubhouse presence they love.

He is also similar in many ways to Michael Young, the one who got away.

The Rockies thought they had agreement before the 2011 season that would have sent Eric Young and another young (lower case) player to Texas for Michael Young. But when Michael Young told the Rangers he’d like to stay, the Rangers asked out of the deal, and the Rockies very nicely obliged with the stipulation that they’d have first crack at Young if he should go back onto the market.

Cuddyer, like Young, is a excellent righthanded hitter who’s versatile and great in the clubhouse. He isn’t quite as good a hitter as Young, but he fills the bill, nonetheless.

It also helps set the Rockies up for the rest of the winter. Cuddyer’s deal marks the end of Colorado’s pursuit of Carlos Beltran who is said to be talking to the Cardinals, Blue Jays and one other team.

They still seek a starting pitcher and have shown interest in Hiroki Kuroda and Joe Saunders. They also had made an early offer to Kevin Milwood.

Cuddyer, a longtime Twin, had received three-year offers from the Twins and Phillies and possibly also the Mariners.

For more MLB news and rumors from Jon Heyman, follow @JonHeymanCBS.

The attention is all on hot Japanese righthander Yu Darvish, but veteran countryman Hiroki Kuroda is drawing significant interest as well.

Kuroda is much lighter on buzz, but some teams actually prefer Kuroda, as he is the proven one in the majors. The Yankees, who are said to have placed a "modest" bid on Darvish and have no expectation of winning the posting process, seem to almost prefer Kuroda, anyway.

The Rockies and Diamondbacks are also believed interested in Kuroda. While Kuroda turned down overtures from several teams at the trade deadline because he preferred to stay with the Dodgers, a person close to Kuroda said he is open to playing in New York and a few other places. He hasn't ruled out returning to Japan, either.

He is believed to be interested in a two-year deal. Kuroda made $12 million in base salary and would likely receive at least that off another productive season in L.A.

For more MLB news and rumors from Jon Heyman, follow @JonHeymanCBS.