HUGHES SIGNS, AVOIDS ARBITRATION

The Yankees avoided arbitration with Phil Hughes, reaching a one-year deal worth $3.2 million. Hughes gets a $500,000 raise despite an injury plagued 2011 season.

Pitchers Hiroki Kuroda and Michael Pineda were added this week, so the Yankees have 7 starters.

The Yankees could move Hughes to the bullpen or find himself wearing another uniform.

HUGHES TO KC RUMOR, COLON, DAMON, PENA

The website SPORTSGATHER.COM reports that the Yankees might be willing to ship Phil Hughes to the Royals  to acquire Billy Butler. I have never heard of this site, so take it for what its worth.

More well known sources say:

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Bartolo Colon has signed a one-year deal with the Oakland A’s.

Carlos Pena tells ESPN that he has spoken to the Yankees.

YANKS SIGN KURODA

The Yankees have agreed to a 1-year deal with Hiroki Kuroda, pending a physical. The deal will be around $11 million. 


The Yankees' rotation now has CC Sabathia, Kuroda, Michael Pineda, Ivan Nova, A.J. Burnett, Freddy Garcia and Phil Hughes.


That's 7 starters, so someone is going to the pen and someone is going, period.


 Also, it would seem that Bartolo Colon is out of the mix.


In 2011 Kuroda went 13-16 with a 3.07 ERA for the Dodgers.

MONTERO TRADED TO MARINERS

 The Yankees have acquired  right-handed pitchers Michael Pineda and 19-year-old Jose Campos (Single-A) from the Mariners in exchange for catching prospect Jesus Montero and pitcher Hector Noesi.

The 22-year-old Pineda was an All-Star in his rookie season of 2011. He went 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA in 171 innings of work for Seattle. He also struck out 173 with 55 walks.

Montero was the top prospect in the Yankees organization. He made his major league debut in 2011, appearing in 18 games. He hit four home runs and drove in 12 runs in 61 at-bats.

The move also opens up a competition for the back up catcher position between prospect Austin Romine and veteran Francisco Cervelli.

All I know is that this Pineda guy better be good or Cashman is toast!

MATTINGLY 3

Preston Mattingly, the 24-year-old son of former Yankees star and current Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, agreed to a minor league contract with the Yankees.

The Yankees said he will report to minor league spring training.

The younger Mattingly hit .232 with five doubles, five home and 19 RBIs in 53 games last year with Class A Great Lakes and Rancho Cucamonga.

He was drafted by the Dodgers in 2006, then traded to Cleveland in  2010, released by the Indians the following April and then signed with the Dodgers. He was a six-year minor league free agent.


Preston becomes the third Mattingly to suit up in the Yankees orgainization.

Taylor Mattingly played minor league ball for the Yankees in 2003 and 2004, reaching their Class A affiliate in Staten Island before quitting professional baseball after a shoulder injury.

In 2009 Taylor was arrested on misdemeanor charges of shoving his mother and spitting in her face after she allegedly sent him an insulting text message.