Brian Cashman speaks to the media at Winter Meetings

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman didn't get a chance to speak with members of the media on Monday because he didn't get into Orlando until late in the day, but he finally found some time on day 2 of the Winter Meeting from Lake Buena Vista. Here is a quick gist of what he had to say:

-- Cashman says that he has contacted free-agent third baseman Kevin Youkilis to gauge his interest in re-signing with the Yankees. Youkilis said that he was gracious for the call, but would much rather sign with a team closer to his home in California.

Youkilis only played 28 games for the Yankees in 2013 after signing a one-year, $12 million deal.

He was suppose to be the backup plan for Alex Rodriguez, but back problems forced him to the disabled list, and the man that people will always see as a Red Sock, did not leave a good impression on the Yankees.

-- Boone Logan and Mark Reynolds are also free-agents this offseason after playing for the Yanks last season. Cashman said that he has stayed in contact with both of those players.

The Yanks have a need at third base, and a right-hander with power would bode well for the lineup. He signed with the team in August and played well enough for the Cashman to want him back.

Logan has been to lefty-specialist with the team for the past few seasons, and he ran into some elbow troubles late in the season, and his now a free-agent that has been drawing interest from a handful of teams.

The Yankees are still looking for a pitcher like Logan, and he will be an option to bring back if they can't find anyone else.

-- Team president Randy Levine said earlier in the day that the Yankees are not shopping Brett Gardner, and Cashman said pretty much the same thing, but also says that they are still listening to offers.

“We have an obligation to hear what anybody’s interest happens to be,” Cashman said.

Cashman also says that while he is getting a lot of calls on Gardner, teams have also been calling about Ivan Nova, J.R. Murphy and Gary Sanchez, among others.

-- Cashman thinks that newly signed Kelly Johnson is an option to start at second or third base next season.

“He’s more of a bat than a defender,” Cashman said. “… But there’s a comfort level knowing that we have an improved depth situation there that gives us some flexibility.”

He said that Yankees would like to make even more moves to improve the depth of the infield, but those might not come until later in the offseason or even Spring Training.

-- The Yankees are still looking to add at least one more starting pitcher, but because both the free-agent market and trade market aren't very strong, Cashman doesn't know where they might find a starter.

“We certainly could sign a free agent starter,” Cashman said. “Signing one might be easier than trading for one, we're just trying to find the right one.”

Of course, Masahiro Tanaka would be an option for the Yankees is he's posted, and Cashman says he hasn't heard anything on his situation.

-- Michael Pineda, who hasn't thrown a single pitch for the Yankees since being acquired before Spring Training in 2012, is finally healthy and will come to camp ready to compete for a spot in the rotation, according to Cashman.

Manny Banuelos is also healthy, but the chances of him breaking camp on the big league roster are pretty slim. “Our expectation would be that he would be in Triple-A,” Cashman said.

-- Cashman also noted that Joe Torre, who was voted into the Hall of Fame Monday, will most certainly have his number No. 6 retired by the club eventually.

“We haven’t given it out for a reason,” Cashman said. “It’s been tucked away for quite some time. At some point, that’ll happen, not doubt about it. Clearly it’s has already unofficially happened.”

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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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Logan Has Bone Spurs In His Elbow, Hopes To Pitch This Season

After a visit with Dr. James Andrews in Florida, Yankees left-handed specialist Boone Logan has been diagnosed with bone spurs in his left elbow. For the moment, it's nothing serious, and there's currently no damage to any of the ligaments in his elbow.

Logan is hoping that he'll be able to pitch again for the Yankees before this season is over, Friday at the earliest, but he will have to undergo surgery on his elbow this offseason to clean out the bone spurs.

If this sound familiar, its' because it is. CC Sabathia had the same procedure done on his elbow this past offseason, and he's come back to have no problems at all -- other than his decrease in velocity.

Logan has been sidelined with elbow problems ever since he first felt some pain on a pitch he threw to Mike Napoli that turned into a game-tying grand slam against the Boston Red Sox last Friday. With him out, the Yankees have had to rely on David Huff and Mike Zagurski as the only left-handers out of the bullpen.

Logan has been having a good season for the Yankees, posting a 5-2 record with a 3.26 ERA in 38.2 innings over 60 appearances in 2013. If the Yankees were to make the playoffs, it would be a great benefit to have him coming out of the bullpen to face a tough lefty in any late-game situation.

This season, left-handed hitters are batting .224 (17-76) with six walks, 13 RBIs, three homeruns and three doubles against Logan.

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Things Are Not Looking Good For Boone Logan

If you didn't read the title of these pre-game notes, then here you go: Things are not look good for the Yankees' left-handed specialist Boone Logan. Logan has been dealing with elbow problems ever since hurting his elbow on what he says what the pitch that Mike Napoli hit for a game-tying grand slam against the Yankees last week.

Logan was taken for a MRI over the weekend and even had a cortisone shot injected in his left elbow, but things are getting better, and now the Yankees are sending the results of his MRI to Dr. James Andrews, which is never a good thing for a pitcher to be connected to Dr. Andrews.

In the meantime, prior to tonight's game against the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees have called up left-hander Mike Zagurski, who threw six inning for the Oakland Athletics Triple-A team this season, before spending the last few weeks in Triple-A Scranton for the Yanks, where he posted a 3.08 ERA in 26 1/3 innings.

Logan was hoping he could return to the mound by the Friday when the Yankees open up a three-game series at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox.

“I think he ruled out until we say otherwise,” Said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. “If you go zero to 10, zero being down and out, and 10 being fully recovered, he hit zero the other day. He’s still stuck at zero. I don’t think he’s made any progress.”

To make room for Zagurski on the 40-man roster, the Yankees transferred DH Travis Hafner to the 60-day DL, effectively ending his season, said Cashman. Hafner has been out since late-July because of problems in his right shoulder. After signing for just $2M this offseason, Hafner hit .318 with 6 homeruns in April, but his production fell dramatically, hitting just 6 more homeruns and dropping his batting average to .202 before getting hurt.

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Pre-Game Notes: Jeter, Kelley, Huff and More

As the New York Yankees look to avoid being swept by the Boston Red Sox, while also trying to gain ground on the teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race, the Yankees are currently dealing with a handful of injury problems.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi spoke with the media prior to Sunday's series finale, that also happens to be the final game of the Yanks' 10-game homestand, with the team embarking on a 10-game road trip starting Monday in Baltimore.

Jeter day to day, not being shut down:

After being removed in the 6th inning of Saturday's 13-9 loss to the Red Sox, the Yankees sent Derek Jeter to the hospital for precautionary CT scans one his surgically repaired left ankle. Good new for the Yankees, the results of the CT scan came back negative.

The Yankees were also planning on sending the CT results to Dr. Anderson, the man who performed Jeter's surgery last October, just to confirm to clean results.

Girardi told to media this morning that Jeter's ankle is still a little sore -- it was believed that he hurt the ankle while fielding a groundball in the top of the 6th inning -- and he plans on giving Jeter a few days off, before re-evaluating him.

When asked if the Yankee had any plans on shutter down for the rest of the season, and Girardi said no, they weren't planning anything.

Although, if there's truly concern over a possible injury in his ankle, I see no reason why he shouldn't be shut down. As Girardi explained, "this is probably his worst [season] ever", so why not just just him the last two games off and not risk him re-hurting the ankle. I'd much rather have him sit out and come back healthy in 2014, then possibly get hurt, especially if the Yanks don't make the playoffs.

Huff staying put in the rotation:

David Huff endured quite the beating by the Red Sox bats Saturday, giving up nine runs on eight huts after striking out the first two batters of the game. Huff didn't make it out of the 4th inning, going only 3.1 before Girardi pulled the plug.

Huff was in the rotation because he had been in pitching very well out of the bullpen for the Yankees, giving up just two runs in his first 16 inning with the team, and Phil Hughes had been having an awful year as a starter fir the Yankees, and finally a move was made.

Girardi said that another move involving Huff won;t be made, and that he plans on keeping Huff on the rotation, meaning that he'll likely be taking the mound again for the Yankees on Thursday when they wrap up a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.

I wrote in a blog post yesterday that Girardi should give Huff another shot, consider that he was facing the Boston Red Sox, a team that has put up over 50 runs in their last four games. Putting Hughes back in the rotation is still worse than keeping Huff in it.

Kelley available to pitch, Logan and Robertson aren't:

Shawn Kelley, who has been out for a few days because of triceps inflammation, will be back in action for the Yankees on Sunday, saying before the game that he would be available to pitch once again for Girardi out of the bullpen.

Kelley hasn't pitched for the Yankees since last Sunday against the Orioles, when he gave up a three-run homerun to JJ Hardy to tie the game, as the Bombers would go in to lose 7-3.

In 52 appearances for the Yankees this season, Kelley has posted a 3.96 ERA, while being on of the Yanks better arms out of the bullpen. He's been able to come into game a deliver a big strikeout when needed, but he's been a little shaky on the mound lately.

As for the Yankees other hurting relievers, David Robertson and Boone Logan, the latest on them is that neither one is close to returning to game action. Girardi said that both pitcher are not yet at the point of even throwing.

Logan received some discouraging news after the game on Saturday, when MRI results revealed inflammation in the area of his left elbow, where he's been feeling some discomfort. Logan says that he began feeling problems on the pitch that he gave up a grand slam to Mike Napoli in Friday night's loss.

"He’ll probably be three days off," Girardi said. "And we’ll go from there."

Robertson is still dealing with tendinitis in his right shoulder, and he's been receiving treatment on the shoulder for the past couple of days, and it's unlikely that he'll return to game action within the next couple of days.

Robertson said he was feeling fatigued once he came back to the clubhouse after his appearance Thursday night against Boston -- when he allowed two runs on three hits in just one-third of an inning -- and decided to get it checked out just as a precaution.

"I woke up the next morning (Friday) and it didn't feel right," Robertson said. "It felt like I overused it. I reached back and threw a little extra on some pitches and my shoulder just didn't feel good the next day."

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