Yankees Pitching Notes: Sabathia Ready, Hughes to the DL, Betances OK

CC Sabathia is ready for April 1st. 

The New York Yankees are just five days away from opening the 2013 season with CC Sabathia on the mound. Last night, the southpaw pitched in his final Spring Training game as he made final preparations for his next start against the Boston Red Sox on April 1st.

The Houston Astros tacked on three runs against Sabathia in the first inning, but the Yankees' ace settled down from there. He pitched five innings and collected four strikeouts along the way. His cutter was not at its best, but he should be ready for Opening Day.

Just looking at his Spring Training stat line would may not look pretty, but there is more to Sabathia's performance as he recovers from shoulder surgery. His ERA sits at 5.40 in 10 innings and the lack of innings comes from the fact that he only made his spring debut on March 16.

He will be opposed by Jon Lester on Monday afternoon in the Bronx. The game is scheduled to start at 1:05 ET.
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Phil Hughes pitched in a minor league game this afternoon. He was slated to throw 70 to 75 pitches. He will most likely make one more minor league start before rejoining the team. Girardi acknowledged that Hughes will start the season on the disabled list.
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Mariano Rivera has not allowed a single run in six Spring Training appearances. He was one of the relievers in the Yankees' draw with the Astros on Tuesday night. Looks like he is ready to go.
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According to Josh Norris of the Trentonian, Dellin Betances did some side work and participated in pitching fielding practice. He turned 25 on March 23 and the Yankees are still waiting for this prospect to pan out. Hope is still alive in the front office.

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Lyle Overbay Signs Minor League Deal

The New York Yankees have kept close tabs on first baseman Lyle Overbay at the Red Sox spring training camp over the last few days and on Tuesday morning he was granted his release. New York is in need of a first baseman after Mark Teixeira is expected to miss the first eight to ten weeks of the 2013 season.

Buster Olney of ESPN believes it is unlikely that Overbay would sign with the Yankees, but the team will inquire.

At 36 years old, Overbay is coming off a season where he hit just two home runs for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves in 131 plate appearances. The left-handed hitter sees the ball better against right-handed pitchers and evenly sprays the ball out into each part of the outfield.

UPDATE: Erik Boland of Newsday reports the Yankees signed Overbay to a minor league deal. He should arrive in Tampa soon. The Yankees have also officially announced the deal.

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Yankees Not Interested in Yuniesky Betancourt

Contrary to earlier reports, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman says the New York Yankees are currently not interested in signing shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt after being released by the Philadelphia Phillies earlier in the day. General manager Brian Cashman will stick with Eduardo Nunez for his Opening Day shortstop, if Derek Jeter begins the season on the disabled list.

The 31-year-old infielder will most likely find a job as a back-up due to his solid defense on the diamond.

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Vernon Wells Trade Made Official; Adams Out

The New York Yankees are currently involved in talks with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for a trade that would send Vernon Wells to the Bronx. Wells is owed $42M over the next two years. A deal could be finalized today as both sides work out how much money would be paid by the Angels. The deal was first reported by Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.

Wells has a no-trade clause in his contact, but will most likely approve a deal to New York. The Angels outfield is already crowded with Mike Trout, Peter Bourjos and Josh Hamilton.

According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, the Yankees would deal low level prospects to Los Angeles in the trade. Ben Francisco, Juan Rivera, and Brennan Boesch have minor league options on their contact. Wells would most likely be the starting outfielder on Opening Day as the Yankees see how much he has left in his bat.

Wells would fill the void Curtis Granderson left in the outfield as he starts the season on the disabled list with a forearm fracture.

The Gold Glove outfielder played in 77 games for the Angels and hit .230/.279/.403 with 11 homeruns and 29 runs batted in. This spring, Wells has already slugged four homeruns and collected 11 RBIs in 14 games.

Update March 25: Feinsand tweets that Wells will complete his physical in Tampa on Tuesday and could be in uniform for the Yankees' night game against the Houston Astros.

March 26: David Adams has been released by the Yankees in order to make room on the roster for Wells. Surprising move here. There may be an attempt to resign him to a minor league deal, but he could find a better deal elsewhere.

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Derek Jeter Likely to Start Season on DL

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is very likely to start the 2013 season on the disabled list after feeling soreness in his left ankle for the second time this Spring.

General manager Brian Cashman announced the goal is for Jeter to be ready by April 6th. Eduardo Nunez would be the Opening Day shortstop, if Jeter is unable to play. The team has no plans on activating him as a designated hitter, but want him to be ready to take the field on defense.

This would only be the second time in the last 17 years that Jeter will not play for the Yankees on Opening Day.

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Yankee Pitcher Notes: Nuno, Sabathia and Montgomery

Montgomery was a longshot for the Yankees' bullpen.

- Yankees prospect Vidal Nuno tossed five scoreless innings as New York defeated the Boston Red Sox by a score of 4-0. There is no word yet where he will be assigned at the end of Spring Training. This Spring, he has 13 strikeouts in 13.1 innings pitched. Aside from starting today, he also started for the Dominican Republic in an exhibition game against the Yankees. He pitched in Double-A Trenton last year.

- In the same game, David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain each pitched an inning of work with one strikeout a piece. Chamberlain pitched in his second consecutive game after striking out the one batter he faced in Tuesday's loss against the Phillies.

- Mark Montgomery made his final appearance with the Yankees' major league camp with a scoreless ninth inning. The game ended as Mauro Gonzalez struck out swinging for the final out. Montgomery and Matt Tracy have been reassigned to minor league camp. 

UPDATE 3/21: Montgomery will not be going back to Trenton, according to Josh Norris of the Trentonian. Most likely to start the season with Scranton Wilkes-Barre.

- Left-handed pitcher CC Sabathia pitched in a minor league game and went eight innings allowing just one run on six hits, while striking out six. 65 of his 92 pitches were strikes. He will start on Tuesday against the Astros before prepping for Opening Day.

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Chien-Ming Wang Returns?

Former New York Yankees ace Chien Ming-Wang threw for minor league scouts at the Yankees' minor league camp on Wednesday afternoon. No contact between the two sides has been announced yet. General manager Brian Cashman said if there was an agreement, it would be a minor league deal.

Wang pitched in ten games for the Washington Nationals in 2012. He started five of those appearances and ended the season with a 2-3 record and 6.68 ERA.

He last pitched for the Yankees in 2009, the same year CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett joined the team. Wang went from the team's ace to third starter and ended the year with a 1-6 record, 9.64 ERA and 46 innings pitched.  

He was last seen on the mound with the Chinese-Taipei team in the World Baseball Classic. He tossed 12 scoreless innings in his two starts.

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Derek Jeter Ankle Injury News: Will Not Play in Any More Spring Training Games

Manager Joe Girardi posted the New York Yankees lineup today listing Derek Jeter as the starting shortstop. Just a while later, he was scratched with general soreness in his ankle. There is still no word as to how severe of a set-back this is for The Captain.

Girardi toyed with the idea of having Jeter start the season as the Yankees' designated hitter on Opening Day, but there is still uncertainty in Tampa surrounding the lineup. Eduardo Nunez could take the field as the starting shortstop, but Jeter has not been counted out yet.

If Jeter does not start the year at shortstop, it would be just second time since 2001. Luis Sojo was the Yankees' starting shortstop as New York opened with a 7-3 victory over Kansas City. Jeter missed the first four games of that year with a strained thigh muscle.

Gil Velasquez will replace Jeter at shortstop for today's game.


ANKLE UPDATES
Update: An MRI revealed mild inflammation in Jeter's left ankle. X-Rays taken were negative. The Yankees have him listed as day-to-day.

Update 3/20: Jeter had a cortisone shot on his ankle this morning. General manager Brian Cashman believes that the shortstop may be in jeopardy of starting the season on the disabled list, but it is not serious. There is no timetable for when Jeter will play again.

Update 3/21: Cashman has announced that Jeter will not participate in any more major league Spring Training games before the season. He will most likely play in minor league games only. The team would like to be able to backdate him, if he needs to go on the disabled list.

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Pettitte and Rivera Pitch at the Minor League Camp, Hughes in Simulated Game

Minor League Camp: There was no action for the New York Yankees at George Steinbrenner III Field on Monday. Veteran pitchers Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte pitched at the minor league level. Pettitte pitched against the high-A minor leaguers, while Rivera tossed against the low-A minor leaguers.

Rivera pitched two innings and worked out of the stretch after Austin Aune committed an error at shortstop. He collected four strikeouts after 31 games.

Pettitte went 5.2 innings and allowed two runs off eight hits. He is one start away from being ready for the start of the season after tossing 80 pitches. Girardi will pitch the southpaw again on Saturday.

Simulated Game: Phil Hughes pitched in simulated game. He was hit in the rear end with a comeback liner, but he continued to pitch. He threw 40 pitches and will increase that amount by 10 to 15 in a minor-league game.

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Teixeira Could Miss Entire Season; Diaz Cut

Wrist injury could be more serious than we thought.

According to LoHud's Chad Jennings, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Mark Teixeira could miss the entire 2013 season if his wrist injury requires surgery. The first baseman arrived at the Yankees' camp on Sunday, but has not been cleared to resume one-handed baseball activities.

Teixeira also clarified that his wrist injury, which he sustained in batting practice with Team USA, is to his tendon sheath and not the wrist tendon. He will be wearing a brace around his wrist for a month before he starts training again.

The Yankees have tried several options at first base from Juan Rivera to Dan Wilson, but neither is expected to fulfill Teixeira's productivity with contact and power in the lineup.

Notes: The Yankees have cut Matt Diaz from the team. He was hitting .200 during Spring Training and saw his chances of making the Major League roster diminish with the additions of Ben Francisco and Brennan Boesch to the team.

Ivan Nova takes the hill for the Yankees against the Pirates. He is slated to toss about 65 pitches in his fourth start of the spring.

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Snowy Saturday Notes: Yankees Make Moves

It is snowing in New York. It is March 16. This does not seem right. Neither does seriously considering  Brennan Boesch for an outfield spot, but that's the way things look for the New York Yankees in 2013.

Just one day after inking his one-year deal with the Yankees, Boesch started the split-squad game against the Phillies in right field and went 0-3 at the plate.

Manager Joe Girardi plans on using Boesch in right field if he starts the season with the Major League team, which would move Ichiro to left field. Brett Gardner mans center field.

One outfielder no longer being considered to start the season with the Yankees is Slade Heathcott. He has been sent to the minor league camp. Girardi considered him for an outfield spot, but he could spend time in the minors making sure he recovers well from patellar tendonitis.

Meanwhile, Mariano Rivera looked healthy in his inning of work today as the Yankees lost to the Phillies 7-0. Rivera and David Robertson did their part with scoreless innings. Hiroki Kuroda started the game and went six innings while allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits with two strikeouts.

Interesting Number: David Phelps spring training starts 5 - Phil Hughes 0. Phelps started his third game against the Atlanta Braves tonight.

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Boesch Inks Major League Deal with the Yankees

The new Yankees' right fielder?

According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the New York Yankees have added outfielder Brennan Boesch on a major league contract. He has one minor league option remaining after being released by the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. The deal is worth $1.5M plus incentives.

Boesch will turn 28-years-old on April 12 and is coming off a season where he hit . 259 for the Tigers. As a left-handed hitter, he will be making the transition from the not hitter friendly Comerica Park to the kind Yankee Stadium with a short porch in right field.

This move takes place just a few days after the Yankees signed Ben Francisco to a minor league deal. Boesch will compete for a starting outfield job after Curtis Granderson's injury has him out until May.

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Quick Hits: Romine and Betances Sent to Triple-A; Banuelos to Double-A

The New York Yankees catching situation is clearing up now as Austin Romine has been optioned to Triple-A to start the season. Francisco Cervelli is the leading candidate for the Yankees' starting catcher job with Chris Stewart as his backup. It should come as no surprise that Romine is starting in Triple-A as he has yet to play a full season at the high minor league level.

Among other notable send downs were Francisco Rondon, Dellin Betances, and Brett Marshall to Triple-A. Manny Banuelos, Jose Ramirez, Ramon Flores and Nik Turley were sent to Double-A. JR Murphy and Luke Murton were reassigned to the minor league camp.

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Ben Francisco Signs with the Yankees

The New York Yankees have reportedly agreed to a minor league deal with outfielder Ben Francisco after he opted out of his contract with the Cleveland Indians this morning. Brian Cashman said the team has expressed interest in the right-handed hitter in the past.

The .257/.326/.425 career slugger could report to the team tomorrow and play on Wednesday. He will be competing for a bench role with the Yankees, but could see some playing time in the outfield after the Curtis Granderson injury sidelined him until May.

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Mariano Rivera to Announce Retirement on Saturday

2013: The Final Chapter

The New York Yankees have a 10 a.m. press conference scheduled on Saturday where closer Mariano Rivera will announce his plans to retire after the 2013 season. Last time, Rivera spoke to reporters he said that he already made decision and would announce it prior to the start of the regular season.

2013 will be Rivera's 19th season with the Yankees and in the major leagues. In that time span, he has closed 806 games for New York after transitioning from a starter's role in 1997.

At the age of 43, Rivera will return to the hill after missing most of the 2012 season due to an ACL injury. No matter what his stat-line reads at the end of the 2013 season, his place in baseball history is secure as the greatest closer of all-time. There was no way the story book ending to his career would end with a knee injury. The final chapter will be re-written in 2013.

Whether it is on the road or at Yankee Stadium, whether it is in September 29th in the final regular season game or October 31st in Game 7 of the World Series, Rivera will be welcomed to the hill to the sound of fans applauding the best ever.

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Teixeira Out of WBC with Strained Wrist

Mark Teixeira did not participate in Team USA' exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox. Original reports said he suffered a strained forearm, but the Yankees announced it is a right wrist strain. X-Rays on his hand and wrist area came out negative, so the New York Yankees first baseman will leave the World Baseball Classic.

Although the injury was not considered serious, manager Joe Girardi has options to play Dan Johnson, Juan Rivera, or Kevin Youkilis if Teixeira would miss anything more than the seven to 10 estimated days.

The injury occurred while Teixeira was hitting in the batting cage prior to the game. He will see team doctors in New York on Wednesday.

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Brian Cashman Hurts Ankle After Skydiving

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman suffered a right ankle injury after skydiving to promote awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project. The 45-year-old reported a pop in his ankle upon landing and was taken to the hospital.

This was Cashman's first and second time jumping out of the Army aircraft. The first clean went well, while the ankle injury occurred after the second jump. Among his other daredevil antics, Cashman has repelled down a 22-story building in the last three years.

The last ankle injury to take a hit on the Yankees was Derek Jeter's broken ankle during the 2012 American League Division Series. Cashman was not a candidate to replace Curtis Granderson in left-field.

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One Month 'Til Opening Day: Youkilis Returns to Yankees Lineup; HIROK

There is one month left until Opening Day. The New York Yankees face off against the Philadelphia Phillies in Tampa with Hiroki Kuroda getting his first start of Spring Training. The Yankees will face Roy Halladay.

- After resting the last few days, Kevin Youkilis will return to the lineup as the starting third baseman hitting in the clean-up spot. Manager Joe Girardi may not keep him out on the field too long until he shows no signs of discomfort in his left side.

Injury Report: Pitchers Cesar Cabral and Michael Pineda threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session. Pineda is still on track to return in June as he pitched fastballs and change-ups for the second time, this spring. Cabral is almost ready to face live hitters as he also pitched fastballs and change-ups. His slider remains yet to be seen. He could join the Yankees in late April. (Via Chad Jennings)

Reliever Development: Boone Logan will pitch in a simulated game against Luke Murton and Ramon Flores. Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson will be used as relievers for Kuroda. Cody Eppley and Vidal Nuno also listed as options.

Catching Battle: Francisco Cervelli will start the game behind the plate and then get replaced by Gary Sanchez. Bobby Wilson will strictly hit as the designated hitter for the second string team.

Outfield Battle: Brett Gardner will not see any action today. Adonis Garcia will be starting in center field. Left field will be manned by Melky Mesa to start with Ronnie Mustelier to replace him in the second string group. Juan Rivera will hit as the starting designated hitter.
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Game Notes
Kuroda's first inning:  He had a little bit of trouble in the first inning as he surrendered a leadoff walk to Jimmy Rollins. Two runs would come around to score, but the right-handed pitcher worked out of the jam by getting Ryan Howard to ground out into a double play and striking out Michael Young.

Second Inning: Bad defense continued to hurt Kuroda as two more runs come around to score after an infield error and Jimmy Rollins collected a double to make it 4-0. Robertson replaced him after the hit and struck out Ben Revere to end the inning.

Kuroda's Line: 1.2 innings pitched, three hits, four runs, one earned run, one walk, two strikeouts. 

- Chamberlain came in for the third inning. He got two quick outs on Utley and Howard, but he would load up the bases on two walks and a single by Michael Young. A base hit by John Mayberry would bring around two more runs before Chamberlain struck out Steven Lerund to end the inning.

- Kevin Youkilis did not look to show any signs of pain or discomfort as he walked in the first inning. He committed an error in the second inning on a close play at the line.

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