Yankees hit four homeruns in 7-4 win over the Tigers

Brian McCann hit his first homerun of the spring, and the Yankees hit four total on the day in their 7-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers Friday in Lakeland. The Tigers tried putting together a late-inning comeback, scoring four runs in the 7th against Brian Gordon, but in the end, it wasn't enough to overcome the four homeruns hit by the Bombers. McCann put the Yankees on the board against...

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Michael Pineda will start a simulated game on Sunday

Fifth starter candidate Michael Pineda will make his spring debut on Sunday. Only it won't be in a Grapefruit League game, it'll be a simulated game that he'll start in Tampa at the Yankees spring training complex. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that he's moving a little bit slower with Pineda "just to make sure" that he's healthy as he continues to work his way back from shoulder surgery. “(Pitching...

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Spring Training Game 4: Yankees at Tigers

After impressing in their spring debuts on Wednesday, Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann will be back in the Yankees lineup on Friday when they head on the road to Lakeland to take on the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Carlos Beltran, who went 0-for-3 in his debut, will also be among those getting on the bus. It'll be pretty much the same squad that faced the Pirates in Bradenton...

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David Phelps strikes out four, Derek Jeter goes hitless, Yankees lose 8-2

Derek Jeter made his spring debut for the Yankees Thursday, playing in his first major league gamer since September 7th of 2013, and even though he didn't get any hits, Jeter left the game healthy, and that's all you can ask for. The Yankees' bullpen is where you can point the fingers once again, a day after giving up four runs in the 7th inning to lose the game. A three-run homerun by Mel Rojas...

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Spring Training Game 3: Pirates at Yankees

For the first time since September 7th of last season, Derek Jeter will return to the Yankees lineup, making his spring debut for the Yankees today in Tampa. It's sure to be a crazy day at George M. Steinbrenner Field, as Jeter will be playing the first game, albeit not a real game, since announcing that he'll be retiring after this upcoming season. "I'm looking forward to getting out there,"...

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How Brett Gardner's extension effects the Yankees' minor league outfielders

It may seem silly, but with the departure of Robinson Cano, and the eventual retirement of Derek Jeter, the Yankees couldn't afford to lose another key homegrown player. That is one reason why so many fans were happy with Brett Gardner's surprising extension. Teams may not get extra wins for developing their own talent, but fans still like the idea of teams developing their own talent. The...

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Four-run 7th leads Pirates past the Yanks in Grapefruit league opener

Three of the Yankees' four big offseason acquisitions made their spring training debuts Wednesday, and two of the three made great impression in a game that the Yankees would end up losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-5, because of a bullpen implosion, Tuesday in Bradenton, Florida. Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran were all in the lineup for the Bombers in their first Grapefruit...

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Spring Training Game 2: Yankees at Pirates

Today the fake games get a little less fake. The Yankees opened their spring schedule yesterday against Florida State University, and today they play an actual major league club in their Grapefruit League opener. Ivan Nova will be on the bump for the Yankees in this one. He's already got a spot in the Yankees rotation this season as the likely 4th starter -- unless something very unexpected happens...

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Yankees defeat Florida State, 8-3, in spring opener

For the first time in 261 days, Jameis Winston lost a game at Florida State University when his FSU Seminoles were defeated by the Yankees, 8-3, Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner in their spring training opener. Vidal Nuno started the game for the Yankees, pitching two very quality innings, striking out three -- two in the first inning -- and giving up just an infield single. "I felt good,"...

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Masahiro Tanaka to make his spring training debut Saturday

The moment we've all been waiting for has finally been announced. Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced after the team's game against FSU that Masahiro Tanaka will make his spring debut on Saturday, March 1st against the Philadelphia Phillies. Adding to that, CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda will also make their first appearances of the spring on Sunday, according to Girardi. All three are expected...

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John Ryan Murphy could be used as a trade chip

Prior to the Brian McCann signing the Yankees seemed ready to give the catching position to one of their several catching prospects. But Francisco Cervelli's injury, and Austin Romine's poor season, made the McCann signing inevitable. Now that the Yankees signed an all-star type catcher for the next few seasons they really have a few expandable catchers in their system. The most logical Yankee...

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Preview: Yanks open spring schedule against Florida State University

It feels soooo good to be back. The Yankees are finally back to taking the field against players other than themselves. Today, they host Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston and his undefeated Florida State University squad at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Vidal Nuno will be on the mound for the Yankees, and says that he is expected to pitch two innings. Nuno is an underdog candidate to grab...

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Warming up: Will Masahiro Tanaka's early impressions mean great things?

It seems like not a day has gone by this spring where you don't hear anything about how impressive Masahiro Tanaka looks during his bullpens and live batting practice sessions. Today won't be the first. Tanaka threw another simulated game early Monday, tossing 35 pitches, the most he has thrown so far in an session. He obviously wasn't throwing at full effort, but that didn't make his stuff anything...

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Yankees keeping an eye on Joel Hanrahan

The Yankees have been trying to make an effort lately -- not much, but still and effort -- to improve their bullpen with key relievers like Mariano Rivera and Boone Logan gone from last season. On Saturday, they cam to terms on a minor league deal with Andrew Bailey, who won't even be able to pitch until late in the season, possibly August or September, according to GM Brian Cashman, and they...

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Warming up: Yankees trying to beat the Red Sox, by being the Red Sox?

The Red Sox finished in last place in the AL East in 2012. So that offseason, they set out to built a team much different than the expensive all-star players that they had brought in before; guys like Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. Instead, the signed guys like Johnny Gomes, Shane Victorino, Ryan Dempster and Mike Napoli -- clubhouse guys that play for the team, and not the player. Well,...

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Spring Training notebook, Day 9: Pineda feels good, looks 'jumpy'

TAMPA, Fla. -- Michael Pineda threw his first live batting practice session Sunday morning, throwing to live hitters for the first time this year. And though it wasn't great, it also wasn't terrible. “The ball was coming out really good,” catcher John Ryan Murphy said. “Sometimes he tends to cut them a little bit, but that’s usually his first few warm-ups. After he starts getting through...

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Yankees on the verge of extending Brett Gardner

Brett Gardner and the Yankees have agreed to terms on a four-year, $52 million extension with the Yankees, says YES Network's Jack Curry. The new deal includes a 5th year club option for $12.5 million or a $2 million buyout. The extension won't start until 2015, meaning he will still be paid his 2014 salary of $5.6 million. "I don't want to be anywhere else," Gardner said. "There's no better...

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Vidal Nuno to start the Yankees' spring training opener vs FSU

Vidal Nuno told The Star-Ledger Sunday morning that he will start the Yankees' spring training opener Tuesday against Florida State University at George M. Steinbrenner Field. "They just want me to throw strikes," Nuno told the New Jersey paper. "For me, I want to get back into game situations and umpires." Nuno said that he expects to throw two innings, the norm for early spring training starts. Nuno...

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Warming up: What can Andrew Bailey bring to the Yanks' bullpen?

When he's healthy, he can bring a lot, actually. You may have saw what was reported Saturday night, that the Yankees are signing reliever Andrew Bailey to a minor-league deal. Bailey, when healthy, is one of the more underrated relievers in the league. He was great a couple of years ago with the Oakland Athletics before being traded to Boston. Bailey saw limited time with the Red...

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Yankees close to minor league deal with Andrew Bailey

The Yankees' bullpen has been left with quite a few holes  since Mariano Rivera retired during the offseason. After spending nearly $500 million on free-agents over the winter, the Yankees did very little address those bullpen holes. With David Robertson likely to be the closer, Shawn Kelley the early favorite to be the setup man, and Matt Thornton likely to take over as the lefty in the...

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Yankees are the favorites to land Cuban shortstop Aledmys Diaz

The Yankees are considered the front-runners to land Cuban shortstop Aledmys Diaz after holding a private workout for the middle-infielder on Friday.  A decision on where he'll sign could come Monday, with the Cardinals, Giants, Blue Jays, Braves, Phillies and Mariners. For the moment, the Cardinals appear to be the other top candidate in the running. Derek Jeter is expected to be the everyday...

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Warming up: Boston's Lucchino fires shots, Levine answers back

The United States and Canada weren't the only bitter rivals going at is Friday, as Boston Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino made some interesting comments during a media session that caught the attention of Yankees president Randy Levine. Lucchino took some shots at the Yankees after the Bombers spent $438 million to sign Masahiro Tanaka, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran this winter. “We're...

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Spring Training notebook, Day 7: Masahiro Tanaka continues to impress

TAMPA, Fla. -- Masahiro Tanaka certainly drew a lot of hype over the winter leading up to his signing with the Yankees, and it will continue to be that way until he pitches in his first major league game this season -- his first start will likely be against the Houston Astros during the opening series of the year. And even though he's only thrown a handful of time so far this spring, the compliments...

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Mark Teixeira will miss the first week of spring games

Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is still recovering from the wrist surgery that he had in July, and it's going to cause him to miss the first week of spring training games. The Yankees' first exhibition game is on Tuesday against Florida State University, but Teixeira won't be able to play until March 3rd, at the earliest. Teixeira has yet to take live batting practice this spring, but says...

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