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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Dodgers make a rare trip to the Bronx.

Donnie Baseball makes his long awaited return the the Bronx as his last place Dodgers will try to turn things around against the reeling Yankees. Rookie sensation will make his first trip to the big apple since coming up and Yankees fans will have a great chance to see what the hype is all about.

Tonight's lineup, 7:05 ET at Yankee Stadium:

Gardner 8
Nix 6
Cano 4
Wells 7
Neal DH
Suzuki 9
Adams 5
Overbay 3
Stewart 2
Hughes 1

Phil Hughes (3-5, 4.89 ERA) has had his fair share of ups and downs this season and just hasn't been able to pull off a string of solid starts this season. His last outing against the Athletics is one he'd like to improve on, tossing only 4 1/3 innings in Oakland.

"I didn't have good stuff that day. It's something that I can't really help sometimes," Hughes said. "It's led to a lot of deep counts, foul balls and the pitch count getting out of control very quickly. I have confidence that I'll bounce back from that."

Hughes' opponent from the other dugout will be Korean rookie, Hyun-Jin Ryu. Unlike Hughes, Ryu has been successful lately, coming into tonight's start on a streak of four straight quality starts with a season ERA of 2.85.

Teixeira to the DL:

Not coming as a big surprise, but the Yankees have officially place Mark Teixeira on the DL. GM Brain Cashman said yesterday that was was leaning towards placing Teixeira on the DL, but was going to wait a few days to see how things played out.

Teixeira was diagnosed with inflammation in his right wrist and received a cortisone shot in his wrist. Lyle Overbay will resume his role as the starting 1st baseman in his absence. Just days after Kevin Youkilis went onto the DL, Teixeira will now join him.

To accommodate the move, the Yankees have called-up RHP Adam Warren from AAA-Scranton along with teammate OF Zolio Almonte. Chris Bootcheck was designated for assignment, as well, today.

Youkilis to have surgery:

The Yankees announced on Tuesday that Kevin Youkilis has been diagnosed with a herniated disk in his back and he will undergo surgery on Thursday. Youkilis is expected to miss a minimum of 10-12 weeks.

This is news that Yankees fan feared. He was placed on the DL on Friday with a lumbar strain in his back and now it seems like his career as a Yankee might be over as know it.

I'll have more on Youkilis as the day goes on and I has more info on Twitter as it becomes available.

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Yanks and Sox battle in the Bronx.

The top two teams in the AL East will square-off for a three game series starting tonight at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees have lost five straight games, including being swept by the Mets in the Subway Series. The Red Sox split their series with the Phillies during the week.

Tonight's lineup:

Gardner CF
Youkilis DH
Cano 2B
Teixeira 1B
Wells LF
Nix SS
Adams 3B
Ichiro RF
Stewart C
Sabathia P

Sabathia (4-4, 3.96 ERA) hasn't been on top of his game lately and has been struggling with some command issues. Tonight, he'll be the man in charge of ending the Yankee recent skid. They'll be opposed by Boston's Jon Lester (6-1, 3.34 ERA).

Teixeira and Youkilis are back in the lineup:

Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis are finally back in the Yankees lineup tonight. Youkilis has missed the last couple of weeks because of some back problems and Teixeira has been out since injuring his wrist tendon while training for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

“I’m happy with how things went,” said Teixeira. “It was a little slower than I would have liked. As I've told you guys a few times, I would have been back the day after I got hurt if they would have let me try.”

Nova and Nuno sent down:

Over the past week the biggest questions with the return of Youkilis and Teixeira, was who would be removed off the roster to make room for them. Well that question was finally answered today with Vidal Nuno and Ivan Nova both being optioned to AAA-Scranton prior to today's game. David Adams and Lyle Overbay were to two guys with the most speculation of being sent down, but are safe for now.

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Subway Series shifts back to the Bronx.

Tonight's lineup:

Gardner CF
Cano 2B
Hafner DH
Overbay 1B
Boesch RF
Ichiro LF
Nix 3B
Brignac SS
Stewart C

The Yankees are in the midst of a three-game losing streak which is their longest of the season, and they'll try to break out against the Mets, Jermey Hefner (0-5, 4.76 ERA). David Phelps (3-2, 3.96 ERA) will be the man given the ball in hopes to break the losing skid.

Youk and Tex play in a rehab game:

Injured Yankees, Kevin Youkilis and Mark Teixeira, began their rehab assignments in Double-A Trenton on Wednesday and both went 0-for-2 with a walk.

Youkilis was robbed of a base hit in his 1st at-bat when he popped a ball into right field that was ran down by a diving Tyler Collins. Teixeira popped out on a pitch high in the zone.

In their 2nd at-bats of the day, Youkilis popped out of the 1st pitch he saw, followed by a 5-pitch walk to Teixeira.

In his 3rd and final at-bat, Youkilis drew a four pitch walk. And then Teixeira struck out swinging on a 2-2 pitch low and in on Tex.

Youkilis batted third and played 3rd base, while Teixeira hit clean up for the Trenton Thunder and played at 1st base. Both players left the game after 7 innings.

After the game GM Brain Cashman told reporters that the plan is to have both Teixeira and Youkilis back in the Bronx for Fridays opener against the Boston Red Sox.

Other injury notes:

* Curtis Granderson underwent surgery in his land hand Wednesday morning, according to Cashman. Grandy has a procedure similar to Cervelli's, having a pin placed into his knuckles. Cashman said that today's surgery has no effect on he given timetable.

* Cashman also said that Andy Pettitte is expected to rejoin the team next week sometime during the Yankees series against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium, assuming there are no setbacks.

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