As the Yankees ponder whether to fill the early-season holes left by Luis Severino and CC Sabathia with in-house options or to add a veteran starter, they're linked with one free agent in particular.

Jon Heyman reported Friday that the Yankees "maintain some interest" in lefty Gio Gonzalez, though there are no signs that a deal is imminent. 

Severino will miss the first month of the season with rotator cuff inflammation while the start of Sabathia's season will be slightly delayed because of a five-game suspension he has to serve and his recovery from a heart procedure and knee surgery.

Many wondered all offseason if the Yankees were going to pony up to sign either Bryce Harper or Manny Machado, and CC Sabathia admitted there was a degree of surprise that the Yanks didn't add one of the stars. But ultimately, Sabathia believes the Yanks will be just fine without them.

"A little bit (surprised,) but we didn't need either one of them," Sabathia said on WFAN's CMB program Friday. "We've got a really good right fielder, we've got a really, really good third baseman. So I think we're fine. I think if we needed those guys it'd be a different story, but I think our team is set the way it is. It's good."

The Yankees are going to be without their ace for at least the first month of the season. 

General manager Brian Cashman announced on Friday that the best-case scenario for Luis Severino would be for a May return, confirming what an orthopedic surgeon told SNY earlier this month. 

Severino, 25, is still in the midst of his two-week shutdown period after feeling soreness in his shoulder and would have to start his throwing from scratch once he resumes. 

The Yankees have their Opening Day starter. 

Masahiro Tanaka will get the call to take the mound on March 27 when the Yankees open the season against the Baltimore Orioles, manager Aaron Boone announced on Saturday. 

It will be the fourth career Opening Day start for the 30-year-old. 

The Yankees have decided who their Opening Day starter will be, a process they had to go through again with the news that Luis Severino was shut down for two weeks with rotator cuff inflammation. 

And though Aaron Boone wasn't ready Friday to publicly reveal who will take the hill on March 28 against Baltimore in the Bronx, the signs point to Masahiro Tanaka drawing the assignment.

Tanaka, who gave up two runs in 3.1 innings Friday against Detroit, is lined up to pitch that day and he has previous experience starting on Opening Day, having done so three straight seasons from 2015-17. 

Yankees first baseman Greg Bird is slashing .389/.500/.722 with one home run and three RBIs through eight spring training games.

Teammate Luke Voit is hitting .286/.412/.714 with two home runs and five RBIs, and has noticeably improved his defense, through eight Grapefruit League games as well.

Yet manager Aaron Boone isn't ready to declare a favorite in the Yankees' first base competition, for which there is likely only one spot on the 25-man roster.

Scott Thompson, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees are three weeks away from Opening Day in the Bronx, and the battles to make the 25-man roster at Spring Training are in full swing. Everything hasn't been smooth sailing, though, as Luis Severino's rotator cuff inflammation has left a big question revolving around the Opening Day starter. 

Here's how we see things shaking out in our 25-man Roster Prediction 2.0...

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he could envision his team using openers on some circumstances, especially considering two starting pitchers are dealing with injuries.

With Luis Severino being shut down for two weeks due to rotator cuff inflammation and CC Sabathia expected to start the season on the injured list, Boone said on Wednesday he wouldn't rule out the use of openers -- using relief pitchers to pitch the first inning or two of a game in an assurance to face the opponents' 1-3 hitters -- in 2019.

"I could see it being something we consider from time to time," Boone said, according to ESPN's Coley Harvey. "I don't see it a lot, but yeah, I could see it coming into play on certain occasions."

While the Yankees learned hopeful ace Luis Severino may not be available Opening Day, CC Sabathia is also not expected to be ready either.

Manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Wednesday that the team expects Sabathia to start the season on the Injured List. However, this was always the plan, according to SNY's Andy Martino, as Sabathia continues to take it slow since getting a heart procedure back in December. 

Sabathia threw his first bullpen this past Friday, where he said he feels great. 

On a day when Brian Cashman addressed the Yankees' first mini-crisis of the year, I thought it was revealing that he left the door open to acquiring another pitcher, even as he made a point of expressing confidence in his depth.

"I can't rule anything out," he told reporters in Tampa, "but the main focus is what we've got."

That could just be his way of saying he'll only jump in on Dallas Keuchel or Gio Gonzalez, the two most attractive unsigned free-agent pitchers, if their price falls to a bargain level...

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

James Paxton probably proved last April there's at least some innate grace-under-pressure coursing through his veins. That's when he deftly handled that bald eagle landing on his back during a pre-game ceremony in Minnesota.

Some of us would've had a full freak-out, complete with running, screaming and a mitt and cap flopping to the ground. But Paxton was better than that. Way better. You've seen the viral video. Big Maple has Big Calm.

Does that mean he's a lock to handle the Bronx fishbowl this season, his first as a member of the Yankees? No, but that, plus his undeniable talent, at least makes you want to see him work during the pomp of Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, the kickoff to this season laden with outsized expectations.

CC Sabathia will be busy both on and off the field during his final MLB season.

ESPN announced Tuesday morning that the longtime Yankee, who announced last month he's retiring at the end of 2019, has joined the company as a contributor. He will begin his role later this month, getting a head start on his post-playing career.

SNY's Andy Martino reported on Oct. 29 that the Yankees didn't plan to pursue free agent Bryce Harper, and GM Brian Cashman confirmed Sunday that the team was never in on him. And he was succinct about it.

"No," Cashman told reporters Sunday.

"We're up and running with what we've got," he added, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "We're excited about what we've got. We're hoping that's enough, but always looking to improve over the course of time if it fits within certain parameters."

The Yankees didn't seriously pursue Manny Machado or Bryce Harper this offseason, but they will have another opportunity next offseason to throw a boatload of money at free agents -- with lots of high-impact players potentially available after the 2019 season, including some aces. Here are some the Yanks should have their eye on...

SS Xander Bogaerts, will be entering age-27 season in 2020

Bogaerts emerged as one of the best players in baseball in 2018 in his age-25 season, and just happens to play a premium position the Yanks could need to fill in 2020 -- with the potential departure of Didi Gregorius after the 2019 season. The Yanks could look to extend Gregorius, but there's question of how he will fare when he returns from Tommy John surgery -- with a targeted return of July or August. Even if Gregorius returns and plays well, the presence of Bogaerts on the market would be a tantalizing one...

...

CC Sabathia threw his first bullpen session Friday since the Yankees southpaw underwent a heart procedure in December. The 38-year-old, who announced two weeks ago that he'll retire after the 2019 season, also had another arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Oct. 12.

"Conditioning-wise, knee-wise, everything felt great," Sabathia told reporters. "It was exciting being able to get off the mound."

Sabathia underwent an angioplasty in December. He passed a stress test in January and was cleared to resume baseball activities.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

TAMPA, Fla. -- It was a day of transition for the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field on Saturday, with glimpses of both the past and future -- and questions about whether the Yankees can hold their new core together.

The marquee event was an afternoon news conference in which CC Sabathia announced his plans to retire at the end of the season. Sabathia was a key member of the Yankees' most recent championship team, and a link between the Derek Jeter/Andy Pettitte/Jorge Posada era and the Aaron Judge/Gary Sanchez/Luis Severino group...

It has been known for months now, but the Yankees had an official press conference where veteran LHP CC Sabathia announced that 2019 will be his final season in the MLB. 

This season will be Sabathia's 19th year in the MLB, and to have the great career he's been able to put together over that time, there are a lot of people to give thanks to. During his opening comments, he started with his mother.

"I just wanted to make this announcement that 2019 will be my final season," Sabathia began. "I want to obviously thank a lot of people. I wouldn't be here today, 18 years in the big leagues without so many different people. But I want to start with my mom. She couldn't be here today, but her sacrificing so much for me as a kid to be able to get to this point to live out my dream."

James Paxton threw a career-high 160 1/3 innings with the Mariners last season, 24 1/3 innings more than his previous high the year before.

Now that he's with the Yankees, Paxton has a loftier goal.

"My goal is to get to the 200-inning range," Paxton said, according to the New York Post's Joel Sherman. "I understand the bullpening and leverage, but I wonder if those relievers who are being pushed to constant two- and three-inning stints will run out of gas. I think it is still up to starters to provide innings."

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter | Much is still to be determined, but if D.J. Lemahieu winds up being a glorified utility infielder in the Bronx, which seems to be a distinct possibility, then wouldn't it be fair to suggest the Yankees -- with the questions surrounding CC Sabathia -- may have been better off spending that money on, say, Gio Gonzalez?

Or better yet, Wade Miley?

It's too late in the case of Miley, who signed the bargain deal of the winter with the Astros -- one year, $4.5 million -- apparently because nobody believes the story that he re-invented himself with a cutter, despite his 2.57 ERA over 18 starts with the Brewers last season...

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees are preparing for a news conference on Saturday at George M. Steinbrenner Field to announce that CC Sabathia will retire after the season, as SNY was first to report.

Sabathia's family is expected to attend, and the pitcher will have the chance to recap his career, while looking ahead to one more run at a championship. That is sure to be a well-deserved, feel-good day for the longtime Yankee and one-time ace. But the team enters Spring Training with reminders that relying on late-career Sabathia as part of the starting rotation comes with heavy risk.

The Yankees have had extension talks with Luis Severino, reported FanCred's Jon Heyman on Wednesday, adding that it isn't known whether the two sides are close to a deal.

Severino is scheduled to have an arbitration hearing before the season to determine his salary for 2019, and any extension would likely cover this season and the remainder of his arbitration years (in 2020, 2021, and 2022).

The 24-year-old Severino struggled badly in the second half of 2018 after a dominant first half, winding up with a 3.39 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 191.1 innings (32 starts).

Baseball Prospectus' 2019 PECOTA (Player Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm) projections are out. For the Yankees, they see a big year on the horizon.. 

PECOTA is a system that "takes a player's past performance and tries to project the most likely outcome for the following season. It looks at all of the numbers, and all the numbers that make up the numbers, to see which players are more likely to repeat their success and which ones benefited from good fortune."

When it comes to how Luis Severino will rebound from the putrid second half he had in 2018 and James Paxton potentially becoming an ace during his first season in pinstripes, PECOTA -- a projection system that is notoriously conservative -- sees things shaking out like this...

CC Sabathia cannot believe that Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are still free agents. 

The Yankees starting pitcher, who re-signed a one-year deal with the Yankees in November, expressed his shock at the current state of free agency this week on his podcast, R2C2, with Ryan Ruocco. 

"It's crazy. So crazy to me," Sabathia said. "I don't know what's happening...I have no answers. I just think it's f---ing nuts."

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The slow free agent market has left many quality players available in February, and the Yankees and Mets remain engaged with agents, looking for ways to improve.

While both teams have likely completed the bulk of their offseason work and are happy with their respective rosters, both continue to monitor the market for starting pitching depth.

Neither Brian Cashman nor Brodie Van Wagenen is wired to sit back and disengage, when potential upgrades remain available.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The slow free agent market has left many quality players available in February, and the Yankees and Mets remain engaged with agents, looking for ways to improve.

While both teams have likely completed the bulk of their offseason work and are happy with their respective rosters, both continue to monitor the market for starting pitching depth.

Neither Brian Cashman nor Brodie Van Wagenen is wired to sit back and disengage, when potential upgrades remain available.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

Mariano Rivera couldn't do it. Neither could Derek Jeter. Now, it is CC Sabathia's chance to walk away from the game with the World Series trophy in his hands.

After signing his one-year, $8 million deal with the Yankees, Sabathia proclaimed that he would be retiring at season's end. The ultimate goal for Sabathia has always been a title, and the core of this Yankees squad has provided the 38-year-old enough for one last shot.

The Yankees have two players on the new Baseball Prospectus Top 101 prospects list, and one they traded away in the deal for James Paxton also made the cut. 

RHP Jonathan Loaisiga (No. 64) and OF Estevan Florial (No. 66) made it for the Yanks, while LHP Justus Sheffield -- who was sent to Seattle for Paxton -- came in at No. 50.

As far as the rest of the AL East, the Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was No. 1 on the list, with Toronto having three other representatives (including SS Bo Bichette, who came in at No. 12). The Rays, who have one of the best farm systems in baseball, had six players on the list, while the Orioles had three and the Red Sox had none...

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees will be adding another elite arm to an already dominant bullpen, giving the club a certain advantage over virtually the entire league.

New York and free-agent right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal on Thursday, SNY.tv's Andy Martino confirmed.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives: Manny Machado was supposed to help the Yankees surpass the Red Sox. He's apparently not coming (and neither is Bryce Harper), so the Yanks should double down on their strongest facet -- the bullpen.

If the Yankees want to measure up to the Red Sox, they must possess an advantage somewhere on the roster that unequivocally distances the World Series champs. Adding one more "elite" reliever, like Adam Ottavino, should make it next to impossible for the Red Sox to catch the Yankees in that department even if Boston re-signs Craig Kimbrel. Boston arguably has a slight edge in the rotation and the offenses are quite similar in strength, but the overall scale could tip toward New York if the Yanks add to an already dominant bullpen.

Much has been made about the Yankees "coming up short" in the offseason if they're unable to secure Machado or Harper. Expectations were high that one of the two 26-year-old stars would become part of the Yankees after the team reset their luxury tax rate. Adding Machado or Harper would have clearly pushed the Yanks offense ahead of Boston's.

It's not just his Gold Glove the Yankees like about DJ LeMahieu.

The Yankees' internal data suggested LeMahieu was undervalued offensively, according to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. His elite defense and superior makeup are bonuses for New York, which signed the former Colorado Rockie to a two-year, $24 million contract.

Yankees LHP CC Sabathia was just having a catch with teammate Dellin Betances when he began to feel shortness of breath. He knew something was up.

"For me," Sabathia told YES Network's Ryan Ruocco, "normally, I can run, swim, do whatever, elliptical for however long. My cardio's normally really good. So for me to have shortness of breath playing catch, I knew something was up."

The 38-year-old Sabathia would undergo an angioplasty to clear a blocked artery in December, a heart procedure he is expected to recover fully from.

The Yankees received some good news about LHP CC Sabathia.

Sabathia, who underwent a heart procedure last month, passed a follow-up stress test on Tuesday. Now, the veteran is allowed to work out, which includes baseball activities. 

Yankees GM Brian Cashman said during a conference call last week that he has been waiting to deal RHP Sonny Gray until he was sure Sabathia would be healthy enough to play next season. With Sabathia just getting back on the grind, Cashman may not be too hasty in sparking a trade for Gray, but it wouldn't be a surprise to hear talks have ramped up again.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees have reached the offseason many believed would see them make monumental moves that push them back to the head of the pack in the American League as they aim for a 28th World Series title. 

Here is an update of rumors surrounding the Yankees pursuits, followed by my take on how things currently stand and may shake out...

Yankees GM Brian Cashman declared back at the GM Meetings that he was working hard to ship beleaguered RHP Sonny Gray out of the Bronx via trade before Spring Training begins. 

Well, things might have changed on that front. 

Last month, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal broke the news that Yankees veteran LHP CC Sabathia needed a heart procedure known as an angioplasty to fix a blocked artery. The surgery went as expected, and Sabathia was said to be ready by the time Spring Training came around. 

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees have reached the offseason many believed would see them make monumental moves that push them back to the head of the pack in the American League as they aim for a 28th World Series title. 

Here is an update of rumors surrounding the Yankees pursuits, followed by my take on how things currently stand and may shake out.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

It's that time once again to pledge changes in our lives that are sure to be broken within a week. I took a stab at 2019 New Year's resolutions for key Yankees (including some staff) on an indi-vidual basis. The list is taken alphabetically.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees have reached the offseason many believed would see them make monumental moves that push them back to the head of the pack in the American League as they aim for a 28th World Series title. 

Here is an update of rumors surrounding the Yankees pursuits, followed by my take on how things currently stand and may shake out…

Yankees working on bullpen market

As the Yankees await a decision from Manny Machado, the club is reportedly working on revamping its bullpen according to a tweet from Jon Heyman.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

In the past, the Yankees have made some important free agent signings during Christmas season. Some of the deals turned into the favorite toys of the organization, while others despite the perceived promise turned into coal.

As we await the Yankees next free agent move, let's take a look back at some of those memorable agreements.

As we're in the middle of the holiday season, the Yankees are looking to see if their Christmas list will be fulfilled as the MLB offseason is in full swing. But we have the perfect gift for you: GIFs!

You can use these whether the Yanks make a signing, miss out on your favorite free agent, or save for the season.

Check them out below!

Yankees LHP CC Sabathia had to undergo a heart procedure to fix a blockage in one of his arteries leading to his heart earlier this month, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports.

During the week of Dec. 10, Sabathia and Red Sox CF Jackie Bradley Jr. were supposed to fly together to London to promote their respective teams facing each other in England during the 2019 season. However, Sabathia began experiencing some chest pain with symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn along with increased sweating during his normal exercising. 

Sabathia decided to check it out, and doctors told him about the blockage. He underwent a procedure known as an angioplasty -- a common procedure to put a stent in the artery -- within days to clear things up. 

CC Sabathia will receive his $500,000 bonus after all.

The 38-year-old Sabathia was ejected two innings shy of hitting the 155-inning mark for the 2018 season, which would have triggered a $500,000 incentive in his contract.

In his last regular-season start, Sabathia had thrown just 55 pitches through five scoreless innings. But after hitting Jake Bauers with a pitch in the fifth inning, the Tampa Bay Rays' Andrew Kittredge threw a fastball behind Yankees catcher Austin Romine's head in the sixth inning. 

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees have reached the offseason many believed would see them make monumental moves that push them back to the head of the pack in the American League as they aim for a 28th World Series title. 

Here is an update of rumors surrounding the Yankees pursuits, followed by my take on how things currently stand and may shake out...

Happ signing doesn't preclude trade

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter | : After re-signing with the Yankees, J.A. Happ will be a perfectly fine No. 4 starter in the Bronx. And such a deal makes more sense than giving Patrick Corbin six years at something approaching the $140 million he received from the Nationals.

It probably just doesn't sound quite as appealing to Yankee fans after all the buzz about a potential trade for Noah Syndergaard the last couple of days.

Same goes for the weeks of speculation about trading for Corey Kluber that apparently goes by the wayside now...

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

James Paxton is a terrific addition to the Yankees rotation and whatever relief pieces GM Brian Cashman lures to the Bronx likely will be key bullpen figures in 2019, too. Cashman also wants another starting pitcher. 
 
Whoever those hurlers are, though, they won't make the kind of splash that signing Bryce Harper or Manny Machado would. Heck, or both. This is the Yankees we're talking about, after all. 
 
Nor will the new pitchers impact the Yankee payroll in quite the same way as the 26-year-old mega-stars, who are projected by some this winter to stomp Giancarlo Stanton's record $325 million contract. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

LAS VEGAS -- Earlier in the offseason, summarizing how the team viewed Manny Machado's free agency, a Yankees person said it was best explained by a comparison to CC Sabathia.

In the winter of 2008, the Yanks had just missed the playoffs in the first season of the post-Joe Torre era, and identified Sabathia as the player they needed to have. They would not be outbid -- whatever the market for Sabathia became, the Yanks would go there. The Yankees eventually nabbed Sabathia with a seven-year, $161 million deal, the richest ever for a pitcher at the time.

The 2018 Yankees also ended their year with disappointment, thought not as severely. The team won 100 games, finished in second place in the AL East and lost to Boston in the ALDS. Watching the Red Sox go on to win a championship made the Yankees antsy, but perhaps not desperate.

Hey, Yankees fans: Can we stop hitting the panic button please?

After the Nationals signed LHP Patrick Corbin to a six-year, $140 million deal (which is way too much), all hell broke loose on social media with fans spewing out backlash -- some even saying the entire offseason was a "failure" because GM Brian Cashman was outbid for the coveted lefty. And those knee-jerk reactions continued when Nathan Eovaldi re-signed with the division-rival Red Sox. 

For those of you that indulged in these talks, go grab a paper bag, stress ball, or whatever makes you calm down. These two signings doesn't mean it's the end of the world for the Yankees in 2019...

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives: Here is an update of rumors surrounding the Yankees' free agent and trade pursuits, followed by my take on how things currently stand and may shake out...

Cashman says Sanchez for Realmuto rumors are "completely false"

Fancred's Jon Heyman reported last Thursday that the Yankees, among several clubs, had expressed some level of interest in All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto. However, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Sanchez is not available. Cashman believes Sanchez is not only going to be the Yankees catcher for a long time, but going to be a superstar in the role.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | Even after trading for Seattle ace James Paxton, the Yankees are looking to acquire a high-end starting pitcher, according to major league sources. Free agent Patrick Corbin is the most likely target, but J.A. Happ and Dallas Keuchel are also in the mix.

The Yanks have stayed engaged with Cleveland regarding Corey Kluber and other starters, but the Indians' prices are high.

Mutual interest between the Yankees and Corbin is real, but the lefty also appeals to the Phillies and Mets, among other teams...

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

If you can't beat him, see if he'll join you? Is that the stance the Yankees might undertake with free agent left-handed starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel?

Here are the pros and cons of the Yanks signing Keuchel, what he might cost, and what the team should ultimately do…