A lot of rumors, but not a lot of moves for the Yanks at the Winter Meetings

The Winter Meetings are over and the Yankees contingent is back in the Bronx to introduce recently acquired Jacoby Ellsbury at a 11am press conference at Yankee Stadium Friday morning. It was a pretty quite week for the Yanks, who didn't make any actual moves, but did stir up the rumor pot a bit.

-- Wednesday night, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that the Yankees had rejected a deal with the Cincinnati Reds that would have sent second baseman Brandon Phillips the New York in exchange for outfielder Brett Gardner, straight up. The Yankees rejected the deal for a couple of reasons.

1.) Phillips is owed $50 million over the next four-years, which the Yanks feel is too much for a guy who they feel is in decline, with his numbers at the plate having gone down in each of the past three season.

2.) When Phillips began to think that Robinson Cano might be leaving the Yankees, he added the Bombers to his no-trade list. Trying to be clever -- and although he was never actually approached by the Reds about a trade -- it seems like he would have tried to use his no-trade clause to renegotiate his contract before he would waive his no-trade.

3.) It the Yankees are going to make a trade involving Gardner, it would have to give them at least a No. 4 starter for the rotation. Denying a second baseman like Phillips shows that the Yanks are serious about keeping Gardner if moving him doesn't get him a starter. As much as the Yanks want to keep him, they won't hesitate to deal him if it makes the team better.

-- Second base is still very much a priority for the Yankees has they head back home. The team has been heavily involved with free-agent Omar Infante throughout the offseason. Buster Olney, of ESPN, said Thursday that the Yankees offered Infante a 3-year, $24 million offer right after Cano signed with the Seattle Mariners.

The problem is, Infante is looking for a four-year deal worth about $40 million. The Yankees would really like to stand firm at three-years, but just like we saw with them and Carlos Beltran eventually getting the third year he was looking for, it doesn't mean that the Yanks won't budge on their offer and give Infante a fourth year.

Several other teams have recently jumped into the bidding for Infante, including the Kansa City Royals, who appear to be the favorites to sign him at this point.

-- The Yankees made it seem like they would really like to add a fourth starter before pitchers and catchers report to camp in February -- and they should want to. For the moment, the Yanks' rotation is lead by CC Sabathia, who is coming off the worst year of his career; Ivan Nova, who was great in 2013, but you can only hope his continues the success next season; and Hiroki Kuroda, who fizzled down the stretch.

Michael Pineda, according to general manager Brian Cashman, is completely healthy and will compete for the fifth spot in the rotation during Spring Training, along with David Phelps, Adam Warren and Vidal Nuno.

Adding a fourth starter isn't impossible at this point, but it looks like it won't be an easy task. Obviously they could trade Gardner, but the trade market isn't very strong at the moment. The Yankees have been showing interest in guys like Justin Masterson and Jeff Samardzija, however, the Yankees don't have enough high-level prospects to just trade away.

As for free-agents, the Yankees aren't very intrigued with the top-tier starters -- Matt Garza, Ubaldo Jimenez and Ervin Santana. They're prices are too high for what they are offering. It would seem more likely that a backend of the rotation starter could be a guy like Paul Maholm, who would fit well with the Bombers.

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Yankees turned down a Gardner for Brandon Phillips trade

The Yankees need a second baseman, and Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips has been a name that's been popping up a lot over the past few days.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com says that the Yankees turned down an offer from the Reds to would send Phillips to the Bronx in exchange for outfielder Brett Gardner.

As for why the Yanks would deny a trade like this, we just don't know. Phillips is a Gold Glove second baseman with power that would do a fine job of making up for the loss of Robinson Cano in the lineup now that he's with the Seattle Mariners.

Just speculation: Phillips is owed $50 millions over the next four-years, and maybe the Yanks are looking for the Reds to eat up some of his remaining contract. Another thing you could look at is that maybe the Yankees, who say they don't want to trade Gardner, are only looking to deal him if it involves bringing in a starting pitcher, which they are currently looking for.

Gardner is the Yankees' best trade chip since the team acquire Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran, giving them six outfielders. The Yanks would rather keep him, but Brian Cashman says he has been getting a lot of phone calls on Gardy, and is at least willing to listen.

Phillips is in sort of the same situation as Gardner. The Reds say thy aren't trying to move him, but if they can find the right deal, they won't hesitate to move him. They need a speedy center fielder like Gardner, and they apparently have interest in him.

Omar Infante has been one of the Yankees' leading candidates to replace Cano. However, the Kansas City Royals have been pressing very hard for Infante after losing the race for Beltran to the Yankees. Also, Infante is looking for a four-year deal, and some reports say the Yanks aren't willing to give him that fourth year.

But if you remember, they weren't willing to give Beltran the third-year he was looking for, yet they gave it to him anyway.

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Yankees targeting Indians ace Justin Masterson

The Cleveland Indians are said to be shopping right-handed pitcher Justin Masterson this week at the Winter Meetings, and the Yankees have come up as one of the possible suitors, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports.

Nightengale says that any trade involving Masterson would mean having to move Brett Gardner, and the Yankees would have to include a third team into the discussions because the Indians don't need Gardner.

The Yankees have been looking for a fourth starter to fill out the rotation with CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova and Hiroki Kuroda, with Michael Pineda, David Phelps and Adam Warren competing for the fifth spot in Spring Training.

Masterson, 28, was named to his first career All-Star team this past season, and would be much more than the fourth starter the Yanks are looking for. He struck out 9.1 batters per nine innings in 2013, and his tough sinker would bode well for him in the small homerun ballpark that Yankee Stadium is.

Indians general manager Chris Antonetti indicated yesterday that he'd like to keep Masterson in Cleveland long-term, but at the same time, he is willing to listen to offer on the righty -- the same thing the Yankees have been saying about Gardner, who they would rather keep to team up with Jacoby Ellsbury in the outfield and the lineup, providing some much needed speed.

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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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