Yankees and Marlins delayed in final spring game

The Yankees and Marlins have been delayed due to rain on Saturday, which marks their final spring training game of 2014.

The game was scheduled to start at 1:05, but heavy rain has delayed the game.

The tarp is currently off the field, but the rain is still coming down.

Yankees Pre-Game Notes: 3/25

Joe Girardi met with the media before their spring training game on Tuesday to address a couple of topics.

• Michael Pineda has won the 5th spot in the Yankees rotation. He will join Sabathia, Kuroda, Tanaka, and Nova in the rotation. Pineda is aligned to make his first home start against the Red Sox on April 10th. Girardi said that he was impressed with Pineda since his first bullpen session of the spring. 
• David Phelps and Adam Warren are pretty much "locks" in the Yankee bullpen, while Vidal Nuno's spot is still to be determined. 
• Jacoby Ellsbury will play in his second minor league game tomorrow as he works his way back from a tight calf. 
• Girardi stated that he would be surprised if Brendan Ryan was on the 25-man roster to begin the season. Ryan has been out for nearly a month with an oblique/lower back injury. The Yankees hope to get him back around mid-April. 

The Yankees are schedule to take on the Philadelphia Phillies tonight in Tampa.

Michael Pineda named Yankees 5th starter

The wait is over. The Yankees have announced that Michael Pineda will be in the Yankees five-man rotation for the first time since being traded to the Yankees from the Mariners in 2012.

Pineda has been impressive this spring by posting a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings of work. He has allowed 14 hits, struck out 16 batters, and issued 1 walk.

The only other real candidate for this spot would have been David Phelps, who will likely server as the long reliever in the bullpen.

Pineda will join C.C. Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Masahiro Tanaka, and Ivan Nova in the Yankees rotation this season.

Brett Gardner, Yankees agree on four-year extension

The Yankees and Brett Gardner have agreed on a 4-year, $52 million extension on Sunday. Brian Cashman confirmed the agreement, but noted that some details still have to be worked out. This deal also comes with an option for 2019, with a buyout.

Gardner is going on his 7th year with the Yankees and has been a consistent player since being brought up. When he is healthy, he usually hits around .270 and steals 35 or more bases. He is known to be an automatic steal threat when he reaches base. Gardner also can always seem to find a gap too, which results in a lot of doubles (33 in 2013) and triples (10 in 2013).

The Yankees believe that Brett Gardner has a very similar skill set as Jacoby Ellsbury, who they just locked up for $152 million over 7-years.

Just moments after the news went public, Gardner commented by saying "There's no where else i want to play."

Andrew Bailey News and Notes: 2/23

After acquiring Andrew Bailey yesterday, there has been much discussion about how and when Bailey can help the Yankees this season. Lets take a look:

• Joe Girardi told reporters today that he "doesn't expect much" for Bailey this year as he is recovering from shoulder surgery. 
• Girardi hopes that Bailey can provide some late-inning relief help when he's ready to pitch. 
• Brian Cashman stated that the Yankees do not expect Bailey to pitch until August or September. 
• Cashman called this a "low risk/high reward signing".

If Bailey pitches for the Yankees then he could potentially earn up to $2.5 million in incentives.