The Yankees likely don’t like any of the starting pitchers still on the free agent market except for Andy Pettitte. That means they are going to likely have to deal to bring in a starter or two. If the season started today, Ivan Nova and Sergio Marte would be the Yankees’ #4 and #5 starter and that just isn’t good enough. The Yankees might have interest in dealing for pitchers like Francisco Liriano, Scott Kazmir, Paul Maholm, Barry Zito, Fausto Carmona, Derek Lowe or Joe Blanton. Liriano & Carmona would probably take multiple top prospects but the other guys can probably be had for pennies on a dollar so look for the Yankees to make a deal for a starting pitcher or two before spring training starts. They are also likely in the market for a backup outfielder that swings from the right side. In free agency, Scott Hairston, Andruw Jones or Reed Johnson could be a fit.

The Yankees have signed 36-year old righty reliever Luis Vizcaino to a minor league deal. Vizcaino last pitched in the majors in 2009 with the Cubs & Indians. He has now pitched in 543 games (0 starts) in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 35-30 with 8 saves, a 4.33 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Vizcaino pitched with the Yankees before in 2007. In 2007, Vizcaino pitched in 77 games (0 starts) in which he was 8-2 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. It never hurts to give a veteran guy like Vizcaino a chance to see if he has anything left in spring training.

UPDATE: (2/11/2011) - The Yankees have voided Luis Vizcaino’s contract due to the fact that he blew out his Achilles tendon last month. This is a bad break for Vizcaino who was going to have a legit shot at winning a spot in the Yankees’ pen this year.

Don Mattingly might be the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers but when he was a player he had few peers, at least for a few years with the Yankees when he was healthy. Mattingly was part of an era when the Yankees weren’t a dominating team. That didn’t stop him from winning the A.L. MVP Award in 1985. In 1985, Mattingly played in 159 games for the Yankees in which he was 211 of 652 (.324 avg, .939 OPS) with 107 runs scored, 35 homers and a major league leading 145 RBIs. Mattingly was a wizard with the bat that year as he only struck out 41 times while walking 56 times, showing just what kind of eye he had at the plate. Mattingly followed up his 1985 season with another great year in 1986. In 1986, Mattingly had 238 hits and 53 doubles which are still all-time high marks in New York Yankees’ history. Mattingly played in 1,785 games in his 14 years with the Yankees and he is 2,153 of 7,003 (.307 avg, .830 OPS) with 1,007 runs scored, 222 homers, 1,099 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He only whiffed 444 times with the Yankees while walking 588 times showing his plate discipline. Mattingly is #9 in Yankees’ history in games played (1,785), #7 in hits (2,153), #10 in batting average (.307), #10 in runs scored (1,007), #10 in RBIs (1,099) and he’s #4 in doubles (442). Mattingly was an All-Star six times for the Yankees and he won 9 Gold Gloves showing that he was much more than just a hitter. Those numbers likely aren’t good enough to get Mattingly in the Hall of Fame, but if he never hurt his back he would have with little doubt made it to Cooperstown.

The Yankees have claimed 26-year old righty swinging outfielder Jordan Parraz off waivers from the Red Sox. Parraz played in 123 games in AAA-ball for the Royals last season and he was 115 of 432 (.266 avg, .760 OPS) with 58 runs scored, 11 homers, 61 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Parraz has now played in 634 games in his first seven years in the minors and he is 672 of 2,324 (.289 avg, .814 OPS) with 366 runs scored, 54 homers, 325 RBIs and 114 stolen bases. Parraz was the Royals’ #19 prospect heading into the 2010 season according to Baseball America. So while this might not launch another Curse of the Babe, the Red Sox probably still hate losing anyone to the Yankees.

UPDATE: (2/2/2011) The Yankees have designated Jordan Parraz for assignment to make room on the roster for Justin Maxwell who was just acquired in a deal with the Nationals.

The Yankees have signed 34-year old lefty reliever Pedro Feliciano to a 2-year, $8 million dollar deal. Feliciano pitched in 92 games (0 starts) for the Mets last season and he was 3-6 with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He has now pitched in 459 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 22-19 with 4 saves, a 3.31 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Feliciano has pitched in 266 games in his last three years, leading the majors in appearances in each season. Feliciano has a rubber arm and he’s nasty against lefty swingers. I like this signing for the Yankees.

The Yankees have signed 30-year old righty swinging IF/OF Doug Bernier to a minor league deal. Bernier played in 69 games in AAA-ball for the Pirates last season and he was 48 of 200 (.240 avg, .626 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 1 homer, 15 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. His only major league experience came in 2008 with the Rockies. He played in 2 games for the Rockies in 2008 and he was 0 for 4 (.000 avg) with a whiff. Bernier is a long shot to ever wear pinstripes except in spring training next March.

The Yankees have signed 28-year old righty swinging catcher Gustavo Molina to a minor league deal. Molina played in 4 games for the Red Sox last season and he was 1 for 7 (.143 avg, .286 OPS) with 1 run scored. He also played in 35 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 27 of 112 (.241 avg, .786 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 8 homers and 18 RBIs. Molina has now played in 23 games in parts of three years in the majors and he is 5 of 41 (.122 avg, .305 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. Molina will start the year in AAA and he’s little more than insurance.

The Yankees have signed 30-year old righty starting pitcher Mark Prior to a minor league deal. Prior pitched in 1 game (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Rangers last season and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 3.00 WHIP. Prior last pitched in the majors in 2006 with the Cubs. Prior has now pitched in 106 games (all starts) in his major league career and he is 42-29 with a 3.51 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. He has whiffed 757 batters in only 657 innings in his major league career so he used to be pretty darn good. It doesn’t hurt to take a chance on a guy like Prior.

The Yankees have signed 27-year old righty swinging catcher Russell Martin to a 1-year deal. Martin played in 97 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 82 of 331 (.248 avg, .679 OPS) with 45 runs scored, 5 homers, 26 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. He has now played in 667 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 638 of 2,344 (.272 avg, .761 OPS) with 347 runs scored, 54 homers, 300 RBIs and 66 stolen bases. Martin will become the Yankees’ starting catcher with Francisco Cervelli backing him up. Martin’s signing moves Jorge Posada to the DH job full time and that will likely keep him healthy.

The Yankees have selected 24-year old righty reliever Daniel Turpen away from the Boston Red Sox in the Rule 5 Draft. Turpen pitched in 49 games (0 starts) in AA-ball last season and he was 7-6 with 4 saves, a 4.30 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He has now pitched in 156 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 16-12 with 17 saves, a 2.86 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Turpen will get a shot to win a job in the Yankees’ pen next spring.

UPDATE: (3/14/2011) - The Yankees have returned Daniel Turpen to the Red Sox.