Yankees agree to terms with Andrew Bailey

According to Buster Olney, The Yankees have agreed to terms with free agent reliever Andrew Bailey. The deal is reported to be a minor league deal that is stacked with incentives if he makes the major league roster. If he makes the big league club, he will earn $2.5 million in 2014, with a option for 2015 and a buyout.

Bailey was a solid reliever for the Athletics from 2009-2011, before getting traded to the Boston Red Sox after the 2011 season. He had a rough time in Boston after a sub-par 2012 and an injury filled 2013 season.

With this signing, the Yankees hope Bailey can bolster their bullpen towards the end of the game.

Bailey won't be able to pitch until at least May as he is recovering from surgery he had in July to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder.

Derek Jeter set to retire at end of 2014 season

Derek Jeter  announced today that the 2014 will be his final season in Major League Baseball. Jeter posted a 15-paragraph note on Facebook announcing that this season will be his last. This news comes as a surprise to many as Jeter has been playing at a consistently high level before he missed most of the 2013 season with an ankle injury.

Jeter, a 13-time All-Star, has won five World Series rings and was the Series’ most valuable player against the Mets in 2000. Jeter has also posted a career batting average of .312 with 3,316 hits, which leads the Yankees.

After watching Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte retire at the end of the 2013 season, Jeter is set to follow their footsteps and become the final core-four member to retire.

Yankees sign nine players to minor league deals

The Yankees have announced that they have signed nine players to minor league contracts with an invite to spring training, which ups their total to 26.

These players include right-hander Bruce Billings, infielder Russ Canzler, right-hander Robert Coello, right-hander Brian Gordon, right-hander Chris Leroux, outfielder Antoan Richardson, infielder Scott Sizemore, infielder Yangervis Solarte and infielder Zelous Wheeler.

Yankees agree with Masahiro Tanaka

The Yankees have confirmed that they are in agreement with free-agent pitcher Masahiro Tanka with a deal that will earn him $155 million over 7 years. An opt out clause can be exercised after the 2017 season.  The deal comes just two days before the scheduled deadline that Tanaka has to sign with a big league club.

Tanaka posted a 24-0 record with a 1.27 ERA last season with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

With the Yankees securing Tanaka, their rotation just got a lot deeper than it was 24 hours ago. Tanaka will likely be the number two or three starter in the rotation behind Sabathia and Kuroda.

Yanks' may trade Brett Gardner

With the Yankees recent acquisitions of Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran, multiple reports have surfaced that Brett Gardner could become trade bait in order to fill other needs on their roster.

By now you all have heard that the Yankees have added two more outfielders, which brings the total of outfielders on their roster to six. With that being said, it's more than likely that the club will try to trim that number down a bit before opening day.

Two outfielders that could become expendable are Vernon Wells and Ichiro Suzuki, but it may be hard to find a match due to their old age and decline in production. There has been some noise coming out of the San Francisco Giants front office about acquiring Ichiro Suzuki, though.

If they Yankees go ahead and part ways with Brett Gardner via trade, then they could address some of their needs, such as starting pitching, the bullpen, and the infield.

The Yankees are currently looking for one-two more starting pitchers and a second baseman, due to Robinson Cano's departure. With Gardner headlining a deal, the Yankees could bring in an above-average starting pitcher or second baseman, along with a relief pitcher.

It's also worth nothing that Gardner's contract expires at the end of the season and he could be seeking a sizable deal, so it could save the Yankees some money in the long run.

The Yankees could very well keep Gardner be the starting left fielder with Jacoby Ellsbury is center field and Carlos Beltran in right.

With the Winter Meetings kicking off on Monday, we'll find out soon enough what the Yankees' plans are with Gardner.