Here is a look at all the offseason news and rumors currently swirling around the New York Yankees.
-- Left-handed relief specialist Pedro Feliciano is reportedly ready to sign a two-year, $8 million contract with the Yankees. Prior to this, Feliciano had spent his entire eight-year career across town with the New York Mets, and has held left-handed hitters to a .214 career batting average.
This is an excellent move for the Yankees, who will be without the services of lefty reliever Damaso Marte in 2011 due to shoulder surgery. Feliciano will join hard-throwing Boone Logan, who held lefties to a .190 batting average last season, to give the Yankees two lefty specialists.
-- After Boston signed former Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks to add depth to their bullpen their is talk that the Yankees will pursue free-agent right-hander Rafael Soriano. The Yankees are saying "The price is going to be too high" for Soriano, but I'm not buying that argument. The Yankees have money to spend after failing to sign Cliff Lee, and Soriano is the best pitcher on the market right now. The 31-year-old right-hander saved 45 games in 48 chances for Tampa Bay last season with a 1.73 ERA. He could not only set up for Mariano Rivera, but provides excellent insurance in the event of an injury to the 41-year-old closer.
-- In news about a couple of former Yankees, Kerry Wood is going home to pitch for the Chicago Cubs and Chien-Ming Wang will stay in Washington on a one-year contract.
-- The Yankees, who have a need for a right-handed hitting reserve outfielder, are apparently pursuing veteran Bill Hall for the job. Hall, 31, Hall has a .790 OPS against lefties and a .736 OPS against righties, can play all three outfield positions as well as second and third base. He would provide excellent flexbility for manager Joe Girardi off the bench.
-- The Yankees expect Russell Martin, 28, who signed as a free agent, to be their starting catcher. "As long as he’s healthy, Russell Martin is going to be our everyday catcher," general manager Brian Cashman said. "Now the fight is going to be for the remaining playing time."