Yankees Winter Meetings rumors tracker

Baseball's Winter Meetings begin Monday in Orlando, and the Yankees still have quite a few holes to fill. They still need to add one more starter, a reliever or two, a third baseman and a second base.

With all those needs, there are sure to be a lot of rumors about the Yankees checking in on free-agents, talking trades, and actually making moves.

Instead of writing up a post everything a beat writer says that the Yankees have interest in a certain player, are have checked in with a team about the availability of someone, I'm going to be updating this post throughout the week with a round up of every rumor surrounding the Bombers.

Make sure you check back here everyday this week. Bookmark the page, share it to social media, or follow me on Twitter for the latest happening with the Yanks.

Tuesday, December 10th:

-- Yankees president Randy Levine said that they are not shopping Brett Gardner. As the teams' most valuable trade piece now that they have six outfielders, team have been calling the Yankees about Gardner. He might not have insane value, but he could get them the 4th starter they are looking for. And with Gardner being just a year away from free-agency and possibly looking for a big deal, it would seem to be an appropriate time for the Yanks to trade him.

-- Omar Infante is looking for at least $8 million per season, says ESPN's Buster Olney. Infante has been the Yanks' top target to replace Cano, and while some say his asking price might be too high for the Yanks, I still see them trying to land the former Tigers second baseman. MLBTradeRumors.com predicted a while back that he would land a three-year, $24 million deal.

-- ESPNNewYork.com's Andrew Marchand says that nothing is happening right now between the Yankees and Mets regarding second baseman Daniel Murphy, who could be on the move this offseason. Obviously the Yanks need a second baseman, and some have suggested that Murphy could be the guy.

Monday, December 9th: It was a pretty quiet day for the Yankees Monday. GM Brian Cashman didn't get into Orlando until about 3pm, so he didn't have much time to meet with any players or teams. Here's some of the stuff that did happen, though:

-- Roch Kubatko of MASN in Baltimore reports that the Yankees have called the agent of second baseman Brian Roberts. Most likely, the Yankees are only kicking the tires on Roberts, as teams do with just about every free-agent. Obviously, though, the Yanks need a second baseman after Robinson Cano signed with the Mariners.

-- The Yankees have been keeping in touch with left-handed pitcher Boone Logan, says Andy McCullough of The New Jersey Star-Ledger. The Yanks have been in the market for a lefty-specialist with Logan being a free-agent. But, of course, if they can't find someone, Logan is always an option to come back. He's been drawing interest from a few teams, including the Washington Nationals.

-- The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo suggested that Stephen Drew could be an option for the Yankees as a shortstop if Derek Jeter is willing to change positions to either second base or third base, both needs right now for the Bombers.

Sunday, December 8th: 

-- This was originally reported a couple weeks ago, but Joel Sherman of the NY Post noted again Sunday that the Yankees are still interested in bringing back Raul Ibanez. Many people might remember Ibanez from a late-game heroics for the Yanks in the 2012 ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles.

Ibanez spent last season with the Mariners, playing in 124 games, hitting .242 with a surprising 29 homeruns. The Yankees currently have six outfielders on the roster, but are likely to move a couple of them, and Derek Jeter, Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Beltran are expected to sharing time as the DH, so it wouldn't seem like there is even room for Ibanez. But we'll see.

-- CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman says that the Yankees have checked in on former New York Mets and Minnesota Twins left-hander Mike Pelfrey. Pelfrey posted a 5.19 ERA in 152.2 innings for the Twins last season.

I think the Yanks could find better options than him, and I wouldn't expect much more than just the checkup on Pelfrey.

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Yanks Toying With The Idea of Bringing Back Raul Ibanez

With Curtis Granderson likely out the door, and Robinson Cano possibly joining him if someone comes along and offers Cano the blank check he's looking for, the Yankees will be missing a lot of power in the lineup next season.

According to recent reports, the Yankees have been engaged with free-agents Brian McCann, Omar Infante, Johnny Peralta, Stephen Drew, Shin Soo-Choo and Carlos Beltran.

The NY Post is reporting that the Yankees are now interested in bringing back left-handed bat Raul Ibanez to serve as the team's DH next season against right-handed pitching. You may remember that Ibanez last played for the Yankees in 2012, hitting several big homeruns for the Bombers in the ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles.

He left New York and sign a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Seattle Mariners, landing there for the second time in his career.

Ibanez, who will be 42-years-old in June, became a great steal for the Mariners, hitting 29 homeruns in 2013, while hitting .242 with 65 RBIs and a .793 OPS in 124 games. The Yankees are hoping that he can produce those numbers at least one more year.

After letting Ibanez walk, the Yankees signed Travis Hafner to a one-year, $3 million contract, and after hitting .318, six homers and 17 RBIs in April, he fell into a slump until a shoulder in July kept him out for almost the remainder of the season, limiting him to just 82 games and only one after July 26. He finished the season hitting .202 with 12 homers, 37 RBIs and a .679 OPS, and went hitless in his final 23 at-bats.

By bringing in Ibanez, he would likely serve as just a DH for the Yankees, and wouldn't be needed much in the field with Vernon Wells, Ichiro, Alfonso Soriano and Brett Gardner already under contract for 2014. As mentioned, the Yankees have been looking into some free-agent outfielders as well.

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