Leading off for the Yankees, Aaron Judge?

Yes, you read that correctly. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Aaron Hicks will likely lead off most games for the Bombers, but when asked how he could flip the lineup, he noted Judge potentially filling that slot.

"First I think DJ [LeMahieu], especially with the way he hits left-handed pitching," Boone told the media on Sunday. "He can certainly be an option up there. We could even flirt with the big boy up there, Judge in certain situations. But I do like Aaron (Hicks) at the top of the order. [Brett Gardner] could play into that mix, especially against right-handed pitching. So it kinda depends on who's in the lineup that day, who the pitcher is, who the opponent is. I would say Aaron Hicks is probably the frontrunner to be that guy to lead off."

While the Yankees' pursuit of Manny Machado hasn't been aggressive, the Bombers haven't been on Bryce Harper's radar all offseason. 

Yes, the Yankees don't necessarily need Harper with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in their outfield already. But, at age 26 and a left-handed power bat, Harper would be a perfect fit in the Bronx. 

So what's held the Yankees back from looking Harper's way? CBS Sports' Jim Bowden says it's Harper's defense and price tag that is turning the Yankees off.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Ah, spring training. In some ways it's the best time for baseball writers, a time when players, managers, and executives are more relaxed and willing to talk before the pressure of the long season takes hold. 

I first went to spring training in 1982, and suffice it say we writers were a lot more relaxed as well in those days, before Internet deadlines and social media changed everything about the job. 

The quotes aren't nearly as colorful these days, when players seemingly live in fear of the Twitter reaction to even the smallest misstep, but as I head to Florida to write about both the Mets and Yankees for SNY, there's still nothing better than baseball and sunshine in February.

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...

Jacoby Ellsbury is already missing the beginning of Spring Training and it is likely that will mean he will start the 2019 season on the injured list. 

Yankees GM Brian Cashman said on Saturday that the oft-injured outfielder, who is battling plantar fasciitis, is not running on flat ground and that he will not arrive to Spring Training until mid-to-late March. 

"At the earliest he could be here is mid-to-late March, so we're probably looking at a start on the DL," Cashman told reporters. "That doesn't mean we are (looking at the IL to start) yet, but just in terms of timing it could be."

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."

When the deadline passed for players to avoid arbitration, the Yankees had just one player who didn't settle on a deal for the season in RHP Luis Severino. 

So, before Severino could get to work down in Tampa at the Yankees' Spring Training facility, he had to go through his arbitration hearing to hopefully hammer out a deal fast to avoid wasting any time. Well, he got a long-term extension instead.

The Yankees and Severino agreed to a four-year extension worth $40 million that comes with a fifth-year club option worth $15 million. New York locked up Severino through his 20s in hopes that he becomes the consistent ace they believe him to be. 

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter | : Luis Severino got paid life-changing money and didn't have to endure the potential hurt feelings that the nitpicking of an arbitration hearing can sometimes make bloom. The Yankees grabbed cost certainty on an ace-level arm. 

And the rest of us scored some juicy topics to kick around when the Yanks and Severino came to an agreement Friday on a contract extension for the righty. Especially this: 

Does Severino's deal signal that the Yanks are ready to talk pre-free agency deals with the rest of their young studs? In other words, on deck, Aaron Judge? 

Yankees manager Aaron Boone sat down with SNY's Andy Martino at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa to discuss the upcoming season. 

The second-year manager touched on a variety of subjects, including why he feels confident in this year's roster as well as whether or not he would consider using an 'opener' with his deep bullpen this season. 

Be sure to check out the full interview with Boone on BNNY at 6 p.m. on SNY. 

Click below for another clip from interview

It was less than a year ago on April 20 when RHP Danny Farquhar suffered a life-threatening brain hemorrhage as a result of a ruptured brain aneurysm, causing him to collapse in the White Sox's dugout. He was immediately taken to a hospital, where he remained for 17 days before he was discharged with the knowledge that he eventually would be able to pitch again, though not in the 2018 season.

Fast forward to Friday, when Farquhar threw his first bullpen session with the Yankees, who signed Farquhar to a minor league deal less than a month ago. His bullpen received much fanfare, and even though it was just a Spring Training bullpen session, the moment wasn't lost on Farquhar.

"Just to think 10 months ago that I would be here, you don't know," Farquhar said. "I am extraordinarily thankful."

Whether one believes this is Jordan Montgomery being critical of the Yankees for trading Sonny Gray depends on one's interpretation. But at the very least, Montgomery believes the Reds did a great piece of business in acquring Gray last month and signing him to a three-year, $30.5 million contract extension.

"Cincinnati got a steal," Montgomery told NJ.com on Thursday.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman was very public about his intent to move Gray, and he finally did on Jan. 21 in what was essentially a three-way trade. The Yankees received a 2019 Competitive Balance Round A draft pick and 2B Shed Long from Cincinnati; the Yanks then sent Long to Seattle for OF Josh Stowers; the Reds received Gray and LHP Reiver Sanmartin. 

Yankees pitchers and catchers reported this week in Tampa for Spring Training. Take a quick peak behind-the-scenes as SNY is on hand for all the Spring Training coverage at George M. Steinbrenner Field. 

With Spring Training upon us, MLB Network released it's "Top 20 Players Right Now!" and a couple Yankees made the cut. 

Aaron Judge came in at No. 12 on the list, while fellow outfielder and baseball masher Giancarlo Stanton was placed at No. 19. 

Judge has only two full seasons in the bigs under his belt, but he has already made his mark as one of the game's best young stars. He didn't have the same year in 2018 as he did in his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2017, where he hammered 52 homers with 114 RBI and a .284 batting average. 

Luis Severino and the Yankees agreed to a four-year, $40 million contract extension to avoid arbitration and cover his remaining years of team control, the team announced on Friday.

SNY.tv's Andy Martino confirmed the details of the contract, which includes a fifth-year option. Severino will receive a $2 million signing bonus and earn $4 million in salary in 2019. He will make $10 million in 2020, $10.25 million in 2021 and $11 million in 2022.

He also has a $15 million club option that covers his first year of free agency in 2023. The Yankees could buy that out for $2.75 million, which is included in the guaranteed money, meaning Severino's contract could max out at $52.25 million.

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

The Yankees are comfortable shifting Gleyber Torres to shortstop if immediate plans do not pan out in 2019. But the Yanks should reconsider the move (one that feels almost certain to be required) as a last resort -- not the first response.

Torres enters his sophomore season in the big leagues needing a clearer focus with increased expectations. Despite a very good overall rookie campaign, he did show that he's still a young man learning the game.

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."

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

TAMPA, Fla. - A few minutes after one o'clock on Thursday afternoon, a contingent of Yankee bigwigs gathered behind the cage to watch Gary Sanchez's first batting practice of Spring Training.

As they stood there in the sun, Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone, and assistant GM Tim Naehring shared a common thought: Despite Sanchez's terrible season in 2018, the Yankees still truly believe he will be their catcher of the future, and an All-Star caliber hitter for many years. Spring is a time for easy platitudes and flattery, but this one is different. The Yankees really do still think highly of Sanchez.

Last season, the Yankees had one of the most productive bullpens in the MLB. But GM Brian Cashman bulked up his relievers even more this offseason, which begs the question: How will manager Aaron Boone utilize this unit in 2019?

With names like Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances, Chad Green, Zack Britton, and Adam Ottavino, Boone will have a variety of options each and every game. In fact, this squad could get the Yankees through a game if need be. 

SNY's Andy Martino and Sweeny Murti discuss how they think Boone will use his bullpen this season, and whether or not a "bullpen game" is in the cards...

Adam Ottavino went to high school in Brooklyn but went to college in Boston. Now that he's one of the newest Yankees relievers, he's proud to be directly involved in one of the biggest rivalries in sports.

Upon signing a three-year, $27 million deal with New York this offseason, the newest Yankees reliever is glad to be part of the team he rooted for as a kid.

"It's cool, it's a thrill," Ottavino said. "It's a team I grew up watching and rooting for and it's just a great opportunity for me."

The Yankees signed Troy Tulowitzki on a one-year minimum deal this offseason once the Toronto Blue Jays released him, and manager Aaron Boone believes the 34-year-old shortstop can recover from double heel surgery to make a significant impact with New York.

"We feel like he's in a good place and over some of the injuries that really plagued him over the last year and a half, two years,'' Boone said during Wednesday's press conference. "We'll try to be vigilant as far as how his schedule goes and obviously communicating with him. We'll develop a plan that kind of evolves a little bit."

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...

Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke with reporters on Wednesday as pitchers and catchers officially reported for the start of Spring Training. 

Boone addressed a number of topics but here are some key takeaways from his press conference...

After a 100-win regular season, the Yankees had World Series aspirations on their minds entering the postseason. However, they fell short in the ALDS to the Red Sox, their most-hated rival that hoisted the World Series trophy at the end of the year. 

This year, though, Vegas believes the roles will be reversed.

BetOnline gave the Yankees the best odds to win the World Series at 6/1, with the Red Sox behind them at 7/1. These two AL East powerhouses are stacked up virtually even as the season begins, but BetOnline could have the Yankees' bullpen being a deciding factor once the postseason rolls around...

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 curious case of Jacoby Ellsbury took another turn on Wednesday. 

Yankees manager Aaron Boone revealed at his Spring Training opening press conference that the oft-injured outfielder will not be with the team at the onset of camp. 

Boone said Ellsbury is battling issues with his plantar fascia as he recovers from the hip surgery he underwent late last season and has not begun baseball activities.

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).

Things are starting to ramp up at Spring Training, where lots of the Yankees -- along with manager Aaron Boone -- have reported as the squad hits Tampa to prepare for the 2019 season. 

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

Platoons don't always work, but the Yankees could benefit nicely from a loose timeshare at first base this season.

As Luke Voit seeks to cement his place at the top of the first base depth chart for the Yankees, Greg Bird lurks as a potential threat to recapture the job. Regardless of which way this competition pans out in Spring Training, the Yankees need both players to find and maintain consistent production.

The Yankees may be lacking a blue-chip prospect in their farm system. 

Fangraphs released its rankings of the top 100 prospects in Major League Baseball and no Yankees made the list, which was based on available data, industry sources and their own observations. 

Outfielder Estevan Florial just missed the top 100, ranking in at 106 on an extended list. 

On Wednesday, Yankees pitchers and catchers will officially report to the team's Tampa complex to kick off the 2019 season. And manager Aaron Boone will also hold his first official press conference of the year. 

The Yankees enter Spring Training with virtually the same clubhouse as last season, but with a few new faces like Adam Ottavino, Troy Tulowitzki, and James Paxton. GM Brian Cashman made the necessary moves to bolster a roster that hopes to win more than their 100-game mark last year, and hopefully knock down the Red Sox and capture a World Series title for the first time since 2009. 

Those are some lofty expectations, but that was the same goal in mind for Boone and the rest of the team exactly one year ago. So, with that in mind, here are some questions Boone will likely face from the media when he steps in front of the mic...

As is custom for many players, getting brand new gear for the season ahead is a priority. Every player wants fresh gloves, bats, batting gloves, and whatever else they can get their hands on to play at their best, and look good in the process with the usual team colors in the accessories.

And for Manny Machado, his new gear may be pointing to the team he is deciding to play for in 2019. 

The glove company, Rawlings, released Machado's new leather on their Twitter account, and the colorway is interesting to say the least...

Greg Bird was considered for several years to be the Yankees' first baseman of the future, a left-handed hitter who would occupy a spot in the middle of the Bombers' lineup long-term.

Injuries and struggles at the plate have thrown off Bird's trajectory, and now at 26 years old he enters spring training without a starting job in his grasp as the first-base gig is 2018 revelation Luke Voit's to lose.

"I love challenges," Bird told reporters Tuesday in Tampa. "He (Voit) obviously came up and was a huge part of our success so that's awesome. I like challenges. It'll be a fun spring for sure."

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Padres have shown a willingness to commit significant money to Manny Machado, perhaps more than any other club to date, according to major league sources.

But as Machado continues to weigh his options, some in his camp are encouraging him to consider taking a shorter-term deal with the Yankees.

With the Padres, Phillies and White Sox all pursuing Machado aggressively, the expectation all along has been that he will take the highest offer. But the Yankees are highly unlikely to offer more than the other three teams -- especially the Phillies.

The Yankees have been in pursuit of free agent 3B/SS Manny Machado, who is reportedly looking for a deal that will pay him roughly $300 million over 10 years. Here are the latest rumors... 

Feb. 12, 3:52 PM:

The Padres have been "very aggressive" with their offer to Machado, but he is undecided about going there, reports SNY's Andy Martino. Martino adds that some in Machado's camp are pushing for him to take a shorter-term deal with the Yankees. Meanwhile, the Phillies and White Sox are also in big on him...

Derek Jeter is halfway to having a "Core Four" reunion in Miami. 

The Marlins CEO and minority owner has hired his former Yankees teammate and friend Jorge Posada as a special advisor to Baseball Operations, per Craig Mish of SiriusXM. 

Posada, 47, has mostly been away from the game since he retired after the 2011 season while appearing in Yankees Spring Training as a guest instructor. 

Masahiro Tanaka is hoping to avoid another slow start in 2019. 

The Yankees' right-hander was in Tampa on Tuesday as pitchers and catchers continue to report for Spring Training but Tanaka has been putting in plenty of work already. 

The 30-year-old told reporters that he is already ahead of schedule this year compared to previous years. 

The start to Yankees RHP Luis Severino's 2018 season was exactly what the pinstripes wanted to see. But after the All-Star break, the locamotive that steamrolled through its opponents every fifth day suddenly fell off its tracks. 

Severino owned a 2.31 ERA heading into the break, and emerged an entirely different pitcher -- or at least one that was giving up hits and runs left and right. He would end the second half with a 5.57 ERA and leave manager Aaron Boone praying for some sort of resurrection in the postseason. 

A glimpse of hope came in the AL Wild Card Game, where Severino lasted four innings allowing no runs on two hits and four walks while striking out seven. The Red Sox, then, came to the Bronx for Game 3 of the ALDS on their heels after the Yankees evened the series at one game apiece.

Meet the new Boss, same as the old Boss.

As Derek Jeter begins his second full season as CEO and minority owner of the Miami Marlins, the 44-year-old Yankees legend is already displaying George Steinbrenner-like qualities despite the fact that the Marlins have undergone a full-blown rebuild since Jeter took charge.

"I have no patience," Jeter told reporters Monday. "I have zero patience. I've been preaching it. I don't have it."

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

As the Yankees descend on George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa for spring training, who will be on the 25-man roster when the team heads north? There are some intriguing battles and here's how we see things shaking out.

Starting Rotation (5)

Didi Gregorius has awhile before he can join his teammates again for a game, but he took a big step in the right direction on Monday down in Tampa. 

Gregorius was seen throwing for the first time since he underwent successful Tommy John surgery on Oct. 17. According to NJ.com's Randy Miller, the veteran had "25 tosses" from "60 feet" at the Yankees' minor-league facility, and was also making light throws to first base fielding grounders at short. 

The best result coming from this small workout was Gregorius feeling no pain in his elbow. However, he realizes how long the road ahead of him is...

Oddsmakers are still betting on the Yankees to sign free agent Manny Machado. 

The 26-year-old slugger remains unsigned as pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training this week, but the Yankees are not completely out of the picture. 

SNY's Andy Martino reported on Monday that while the Bombers are by no means the frontrunners, the front office continues to check in with the All-Star infielder's camp and lay in the weeds. 

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

There are few dual-facet catchers in baseball, forcing many clubs to favor either offense or defense when they pencil in its backstop. When a catcher underperforms in both aspects, the team suffers.

Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez will likely face criticism for his defensive abilities until he stops squatting behind home plate. A leaner body and hard work might ease some of the miscues, but Sanchez's offensive production is what the Yankees have counted on most. When Sanchez couldn't provide consistent offense in 2018, the masking agent for his defensive woes was wholly transparent.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | Hungry for another Manny Machado update? Not really? Well, too bad -- we have one.

As Yankees players trickle into spring training, the front office continues to check in with Machado's camp, according to major league sources. The Yankees are not the frontrunners for Machado -- both the White Sox and Phillies have been more aggressive -- but they are not out on him, either.

Most likely, this an example of Yankees GM Brian Cashman's free agency playbook. He calls, he waits, he lies in the weeds to see if there is ever a moment where it makes sense to pounce...

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...

Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez admitted he struggled immensely last season, but he hopes to put those behind him in 2019.

"I don't give excuses," Sanchez said, according to the New York Post's Greg Joyce. "Last year was a bad year. We're in a new year, a different year."

The 26-year-old Sanchez was limited to 89 games with various leg injuries and recorded a batting line of .186/.291/.406 with 18 home runs and 53 RBIs.

The Yankees' pursuit of Manny Machado has been slow to say the least, as GM Brian Cashman hasn't taken a real leap at the All-Star infielder. However, they have always been in the race for his services next season despite the lack of urgency.

Cashman and the Yankees, though, did discuss numbers with Machado, and former Mets GM Jim Duquette found out what the price range was. 

"What I was told here recently was the Yankees' offer -- these aren't out there not necessarily in writing, but hypothetical -- was somewhere in that seven-year, eight-year range for $220 million."

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

In a month or so, it will feel as if Spring Training may never end. But for now, as official workouts begin in the next few days, there is hardly a more welcome sight in sports -- especially for New Yorkers looking desperately for a reason to believe the city's championship drought has to end sometime.

Yes, nothing sells hope quite like baseball in the Florida sunshine, especially when there is reason for optimism in Tampa...

Two of baseball's biggest stars remain free agents with spring training just about to open, but MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is hoping they'll be signed before then.

Speaking at the owners' meetings in Orlando, Manfred said, "Obviously, we want our star players signed and ready to go when we start playing," according to USA Today.

James Paxton understands being a Yankee carries high expectations, and he believes New York's rotation can live up to the hype.

Paxton was perhaps the Yankees' biggest offseason move, coming to New York in a trade with the Mariners, and is expected to be one of the Yankees' top two pitchers alongside Luis Severino. And he knows the team is in a win-now mode.

"I feel like playing with the Yankees, you're expected to win," Paxton said, according to the New York Post's Greg Joyce. "It's World Series or bust for Yankees fans, and I'm excited about having that pressure and being on a team that's so committed to winning."