HUGHES, KENNEDY TO BULLPEN

With the top five starters needing innings, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy will be shifted to relievers for the remainder of the exhibition season as they prepare for spots in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A) rotation.

Since the Yankees want Hughes and Kennedy to pitch regularly, they aren't in the mix for the long reliever spot that is open. Yesterday, Joe Girardi sounded like Alfredo Aceves might have the lead.

"Ace can do both," Girardi said of the right-hander, who appeared in six games with four starts a year ago. "He has much more experience than those kids."