New York Yankees spring training news and notes

New York Yankees spring training news and notes


The New York Yankees continue to work out down in Tampa, Florida. They signed right-handed reliever Andrew Bailey to a minor league deal on Saturday night. He had shoulder surgery in July and won’t be ready until around mid season. This is a good low risk signing. He is 29 years old and the former closer of the Oakland Athletics. He last played for the Boston Red Sox.

The Yankees will begin their exhibition schedule on Tuesday at home against Florida State University. Jameis Winston the heisman trophy winner and championship quarterback is on the team. The first televised game is on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Yankees haven’t had any significant injury concerns so far this spring. Alfonso Soriano has been out with the flu. There are a couple other minor injuries but not to anyone on the big league roster. Manny Banuelos faced live hitters for the second time this spring. Joe Girardi said he looked good. He hasn’t pitched in a year since Tommy John surgery so there was some rust. There is an outside shot that he joins the big league team out of spring training. If he does it would be as a second lefty out of the bullpen. The most likely scenario is he starting at AAA and working his way up to the big leagues by the end of the season.

David Phelps threw a simulated game on Saturday and Girardi said he will break camp with the team but he isn’t sure in which role. Phelps can start for them, he can be a long man, and he can be a short man out of the bullpen. He will do something the Yankees just aren’t sure what yet. My guess is he will be the sixth starting pitcher and short man out of the pen. I believe Michael Pineda will be the fifth starter and Adam Warren the long man.

The Orioles signed Nelson Cruz to a one year and eight million dollar deal today. They also just signed Ubaldo Jiminez so they are getting better. The Yankees probably have the toughest division and it continues to get tougher. Eduardo Nunez played in only five winter league games this year. He said he focused on training instead and worked out with Robinson Cano this winter. He worked on all aspects of his game. I think he has his last real shot now; he can be the third baseman and show the Yankees that he will be important to them going forward. The games he did play were designed to help him with his timing. He was working on not rushing his throws etc.

Jorge Posada is in camp as a guest instructor, he showed up on Saturday morning. It was photo day for the Yankees on Saturday.