Yankee Trade Rumors and Other Loose Ends

So the Yankees' roster is mostly set. This is, or is close to, the way they will go into spring training. They are taking these final few days before spring training to tie up some loose ends.

They are considering bringing pitcher Victor Zambrano back. If they add him, Zambrano would probably be buried at the triple-A level while trying to resurrect his career.

They have also attempted to add first baseman Kevin Millar’s bat to their bench. It appears that they failed, as he is on the verge of signing with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The front office read Ben Sheets' medical records properly this offseason. They did not get serious with the pitcher, who is now planning to undergo elbow surgery. He could return in August.

Speaking of getting lucky, the Red Sox didn’t with Mark Kotsay. Just two weeks after Kotsay re-signed with Boston, he needed surgery to remove a disk in his back. Now they must hope he returns from surgery quickly.

The Yankees also extended a minor league contract to the recently released center fielder Andruw Jones. Jones turned down the deal. There is interest from at least four other teams. It’s amazing how far he’s fallen so fast.

The Yankees also feel that they can get a better deal for Nick Swisher as opposed to Xavier Nady, likely because of Swisher's versatility and contract. (He has three years left.) However, teams that could be interested in Swisher still have plenty of other corner outfield options they can turn to.

Chad Jennings also thinks that people are overlooking David Robertson when they consider important pieces for the Yankees bullpen. Jennings says that Robertson can be as good as Mark Melancon, and that the duo could end up being a vital part of the pen.