Warming up: Yankees among seven teams talking to Aledmys Diaz

The Yankees are one of the seven teams currently engaged in talks with Cuban shortstop Aledmys Diaz, according to Post-Dispatch columnist Joe Strauss. The San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners are also reportedly involved.

MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez tweeted yesterday that he was expected to workout privately for the Yankees.

Diaz, 23, is now eligible to sign with an MLB club after being suspended for one year for lying about his age and identity information.

“He is prepared to [sign] very quickly,” said agent Jaime Torres. “We know he’s going to be in the Major Leagues. It’s only a matter of time. His preference is shortstop, but he’s played second and third and I’m sure would be comfortable playing whatever position is necessary.”

His agent says that he could sign as soon as Friday or Saturday, and since he is now 23, he will not be subject to any of MLB's international signing rules, and can now sign with a club for any price.

The Yankees are expected to be pretty major players for this guy, considering that their farm system not only lacks talent, but once Derek Jeter retires after this season, there is no one below him in the minors that is worth using to replace him.

They have been scouting him pretty heavily over the past few months, yet are said to be done signing big free-agents. Unless they are counting him in their rumored international spending spree, it'll be interesting to see how far they go in talks with him.

We all know that they certainly need him, both short and long-term.

Yankees links worth sharing:

* There is no doubt that Brian Cashman will be around after this season to be the person that finds Jeter's replacement at shortstop.

* Alfonso Soriano might think about retiring after this upcoming season, if his body tells him to do so.

* Jeter came into weighing a few pounds lighter than usual; Michael Pineda threw another bullpen on Thursday, and people are still saying great things about him.

* Mark Teixeira is still a couple of weeks away from returning to the lineup, with exhibition games getting underway on Tuesday.

* Don Mattingly gave some advice to George Steinbrenner on Jeter in 1996, and it has since turned into five World Series championships, and a Hall of Fame career.

Warm-up song: "Gold on the ceiling" by The Black Keys. If you have never heard of this band, then you're missing out, because they are pretty talented.

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Gavin Ewbank is the Lead Writer of Yanks Beat Blog, and you can follow him on Twitter (below).

Follow @GavinEwbank