Season Record: 2-2 (17 RS, 15 RA, 2-2 expected record)
Schedule This Week: Two games vs. Rays (Tues. and Weds.); Four games vs. Orioles (Thurs. to Sun.)

Top stories from last week:

• The Yankees opened the new season with four games in Toronto. Giancarlo Stanton hit two home runs in Thursday’s 6-1 win and Masahiro Tanaka pitched well in Friday’s 4-2 win. Dellin Betances melted down in Saturday’s 5-3 loss, then David Roberson melted down in Sunday’s 7-4 loss.
• Injury Updates: Greg Bird (ankle) will miss 6-8 weeks after having surgery to remove a bone spur. Aaron Hicks (intercostal) was placed on the disabled list with a strain. Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique) and Clint Frazier (concussion) are in Tampa rehabbing. Billy McKinney (shoulder) will miss a few weeks with a sprain. Adam Warren (ankle) has a bruise after being hit by a comebacker. Gio Gallegos (groin) will start the season on the disabled list.
• Miguel Andujar was called up to replace McKinney, who replaced Hicks. The Yankees are looking at April 24th as a target date to use a spot sixth starter. Rule 5 Draft pick Jose Mesa Jr. was returned by the Orioles. The Yankees signed Oliver Perez to a minor league contract.
• By our calculations, the Yankees have approximately $13.5M left to spend under the $197M luxury tax threshold. They opened the season with a $167M actual payroll, seventh highest in baseball and their lowest since 2003.
• Today’s home opener has been snowed out. The game will be made up tomorrow afternoon.

Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the Features tab in nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.

Spring Training Record: 17-13-1 (156 RS, 145 RA)
Spring Training Schedule This Week: Mon. @ Braves (MLB.tv)
Regular Season Schedule This Week: Four games @ Blue Jays (Thurs. to Sun.)

Top stories from last week:

• It’s possible Aaron Judge will hit leadoff against left-handed pitchers during the regular season. The Opening Day roster is pretty much set now that Jonathan Holder has grabbed the final bullpen spot.
• Injury Updates: Greg Bird (foot) has inflammation and will see a specialist today. Brandon Drury (elbow) has a contusion after being hit by a pitch. Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique) has returned to game action. Clint Frazier (concussion) has resumed baseball activities. Thairo Estrada (hip) and Albert Abreu (appendix) are not ready to return to games.
• The Yankees and Red Sox may play a two-game series in London in June 2019. Plans haven’t been finalized yet.
• Rule 5 Draft picks Anyelo Gomez and Mike Ford have been returned to the Yankees.
• Estevan Florial will be featured in the 2018 Prospect Watch.

Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the Features tab in nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.

Spring Training Record: 13-9-1 (118 RS, 103 RA)
Spring Training Schedule This Week: Mon. vs. Rays; Tues. @ Tigers; Weds. vs. Orioles; Thurs. @ Twins (ESPN, MLB.tv); Fri. vs. Red Sox (YES, ESPN, MLB.tv); Sat. vs. Blue Jays (split squad); Sat. @ Braves (split squad on MLB.tv); Sun. @ Rays (MLB.tv)

Top stories from last week:

• The Yankees took advantage of the free agent market and signed Neil Walker to a one-year deal worth only $4M guaranteed. Adam Lind and Danny Espinosa were released, and Jake Cave was traded to the Twins for a pitching prospect.
• Injury Updates: Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique) is progressing, but it is “possible” he’ll start the season on the disabled list. Clint Frazier (concussion) is getting better. There’s no timetable for his return.
• Luis Severino will start Opening Day. He’ll by followed, in order, by Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Sonny Gray, and Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery will start the home opener.
• The Yankees signed Severino, Aaron Judge, and several other pre-arbitration players to 2018 contracts. MLB gave Judge a slap on the wrist after he jokingly told Manny Machado he would look good in pinstripes.
• The Yankees are favored to sign top catcher prospects Antonio Gomez and Agustin Ramirez when the 2018-19 international signing period opens July 2nd.
• Minor League Baseball announced a series of pace-of-play measures, including a tiebreaker rule that places a runner at second to start each extra inning.
• The YES Network’s Ken Singleton will retire after the upcoming season.

Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the Features tab in nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.

Spring Training Record: 11-5 (91 RS, 71 RA)
Spring Training Schedule This Week: Mon. vs. Twins (YES, MLB.tv); Tues. vs. Tigers (YES, MLB.tv); Weds. at Orioles (MLBN, MLB.tv); Thurs. vs. Pirates (YES, MLB.tv); Fri. vs. Astros; Sat. at Tigers (MLBN); Sun. vs. Marlins (YES, MLB.tv)

Top stories from last week:

• The Yankees signed Adam Lind to a minor league contract that would pay him $2M at the big league level. They were discussing a deal with Neil Walker before the Brandon Drury trade.
• Injury Updates: Tyler Wade (wrist) is okay after an awkward dive. Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique) has started hitting off a tee and soft toss. Clint Frazier (concussion) is still experiencing systems.
• Aaron Judge said he is probably “one and done” with the Home Run Derby after winning last season. Both Gary Sanchez and Giancarlo Stanton said they’ll see how they feel about participating when the time comes.
• The Yankees signed Sanchez and 14 other pre-arbitration-eligible players to one-year contracts. Judge, Greg Bird, Luis Severino, and Jordan Montgomery are the notable unsigned pre-arb guys.
• Aaron Boone said the second base and third base jobs remain “fluid,” though Montgomery will be the fifth starter, not that there was any doubt. Chad Green is moving to the bullpen.
• MLB.com ranked Gleyber Torres as the No. 1 prospect in the organization. Here are my thoughts on their top 30 Yankees prospects list.

Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the Features tab in nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.

Spring Training Record: 8-2 (51 RS, 45 RA)
Spring Training Schedule This Week: Mon. OFF; Tues. @ Tigers; Weds. @ Mets (SNY, MLB.tv); Thurs. vs. Phillies (YES, MLB.tv); Fri. @ Braves; Sat. vs. Mets (YES, MLBN, MLB.tv); Sun. @ Marlins

Top stories from last week:

• The Yankees swooped in to sign free agent slugger Adam Lind to a minor league contract.  That is probably bad news for Tyler Austin. Lind could land on the bench as the backup first baseman.
• Injury Updates: Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique) has a mild strain and there is no timetable for his return. Clint Frazier (concussion) remains shut down. David Robertson (illness) will return to the mound in the coming days. Albert Abreu (appendix) has started throwing.
• Ellsbury is going to play some left field this spring, or at least he was before he got hurt. Domingo Acevedo is healthy, though he has yet to appear in a game because the Yankees are trying to build his arm strength.
• The Yankees could use a spot sixth starter early in the season as a way to give their regular starters extra rest. They’ll play 18 games in 18 days starting April 19th.

Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the Features tab in nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.

Spring Training Record: 3-0 (15 RS, 5 RA)
Spring Training Schedule This Week: Mon. vs. Phillies; Tues. @ Blue Jays; Weds. vs. Tigers (YES, MLB.tv); Thurs. @ Phillies (MLBN, MLB.tv); Fri. vs. Braves (YES, MLB.tv); Sat. @ Red Sox (MLBN, MLB.tv); Sun. vs. Rays (YES, MLB.tv)

Top stories from last week:

• The Yankees acquired Brandon Drury from the Diamondbacks in a three-team trade that sent prospects Nick Solak to the Rays and Taylor Widener to Arizona. Drury will compete for the third base job, though it sure sounds like he’s the favorite at the moment.
• Injury Updates: Aaron Judge (shoulder) is progressing well and is expected to play in games sometime this week. Drury (hand) is fine after being hit by a pitch. Thairo Estrada (hip) is using an elliptical machine and could be ready for the start of the minor league season. Clarke Schmidt (elbow) has resumed throwing off a mound as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery.
• The Yankees are still looking for pitching, but Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn “aren’t really in play” for them. To clear a 40-man spot for Drury, Jabari Blash was traded to the Angels for cash or a player to be named later.
• Alex Rodriguez has rejoined the Yankees as a special advisor. Nick Swisher was hired in the same capacity. Dan Giese was promoted to pro scouting director while Matt Daley is the new assistant pro scouting director.
• MLB announced new pace-of-play rules. Teams are now limited to six non-pitching change mound visits per game, and commercial breaks are shorter.

Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the Features tab in nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.

Spring Training Record: 0-0 (0 RS, 0 RA)
Spring Training Schedule This Week: Fri. vs. Tigers (YES), Sat. @ Pirates, Sun. @ Phillies (MLBN)

Top stories from last week:

• The Yankees attended Tim Lincecum’s workout Thursday and are said to be monitoring the market for Lance Lynn, who remains unsigned like so many free agents.
• Injury Updates: Aaron Judge (shoulder) is progressing well following surgery and will take batting practice today. CC Sabathia (ankle) rolled his ankle during a fielding drill but is fine. Thairo Estrada (hip) was shot during a robbery attempt in Venezuela a few weeks ago and is thankfully doing well. He’s expected to begin riding a stationary bike this week.
• Judge took Derek Jeter’s spot in Captain’s Camp and hosted a dinner for the prospects. The Yankees announced the coaching staffs for their full season minor league affiliates.

Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the Features tab in nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.