MINNEAPOLIS -- David Cone, winless in four months, said he'd try anything, and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner decided that means a trip to Florida.

A day after Cone lost to Minnesota 9-3, the Boss ordered Cone to the team's minor league camp in Tampa.

Cone, who has lost a career-high eight consecutive decisions, is expected to throw Saturday and Monday under the supervision of Billy Connors, the Yankees vice president of player personnel, and others.

"He's looking for answers, too," Yankees manager Joe Torre said Friday. "We'll see if this is an answer. That's the way he took it."

Torre said Cone, 1-10 with a 6.88 ERA, remains in the Yankees' rotation. The Yankees have lost the last 12 times Cone has started, and he is winless in 14 starts since beating Toronto on April 28.

Since pitching a perfect game against Montreal on July 18, 1999, Cone is 3-15 in 32 starts.

Torre said receiving a directive from Steinbrenner didn't bother him.

"He's the Boss, and I think we're all in this for the same thing," Torre said. ` We're all trying to find out how to get it better."