Around The AL East: Yankees

Four players who were on the Yankees' 2007 25-man roster were named in former Senator George Mitchell's report on the abuse of illegal performance-enhancing drugs in baseball: right-hander Roger Clemens, first baseman/DH Jason Giambi, left-hander Andy Pettitte and lefty Ron Villone. A fifth, catcher Todd Pratt, was with the Yankees until the final days of spring training.

Clemens was not expected to pitch for the Yankees in 2008, and, despite the Yankees' desperate need for another left-handed reliever, Villone was not in the club's plans for next year.

However, after much hoping and cajoling on behalf of Yankees management and its players, Pettitte had just agreed to return to the club on a one-year, $16 million contract. Giambi is in the Yankees' mix among possible first basemen, along with switch-hitting Wilson Betemit and right-handed hitter Shelley Duncan.

Pettitte confirmed that he had used human growth hormone, but he said he used it only two days, both while he was attempting to recover from injuries. Clemens and Alex Rodriguez, who wasn't named in the report, both denied using banned substances.

It's unknown whether discipline will be forthcoming by commissioner Bud Selig, or if the Yankees will attempt to discipline the players internally. Could it cost them games or money, or both?

Giambi's name had previously been linked to past steroid use, and his presence on Mitchell's list was expected. But now that Mitchell's reach has extended into the Yankees' generally thin and young starting rotation, the club could be dealt a serious blow.

If Pettitte is suspended for any serious length of time, the Yankees might have to overpay in terms of talent to acquire another top starting pitcher. They could revisit the Johan Santana talks with the Minnesota Twins, though the club now seems extremely reluctant to include right-hander Phil Hughes in a deal, and right-hander Joba Chamberlain has already been declared off limits.


NOTES, QUOTES
—RHP Mariano Rivera agreed to terms on a three-year contract on Nov. 19, but the $45 million deal wasn't finalized until Dec. 17. He had to pass a physical and complete the fine print on the deal.

—OF Hideki Matsui was reportedly linked to interest by the San Francisco Giants. But Matsui holds a full no-trade clause, and he said the Yankees had not approached him about waiving it. Further, Matsui said his focus was solely on rehabbing his surgically repaired right knee in time to start spring training. The Giants probably are no longer pursuing outfielders after signing free agent CF Aaron Rowand to a five-year, $60 million deal.

—3B Alex Rodriguez finalized his record 10-year, $275 million deal to return to the Yankees, with another possible $30 million coming if he breaks baseball's all-time home run record. "It seemed like the whole thing was a roller coaster," Rodriguez told reporters about his rocky offseason after he opted out of the last three years of his original contract. "It was very emotional. It was very stressful. All along the line, I knew that I wanted to be a Yankee, and somewhere along the line, I took a couple wrong turns."

—RHP Carl Pavano was reportedly asked to consider a minor league assignment, which would open up a major league roster spot for the Yankees. Pavano, who underwent reconstructive elbow surgery last June, has the 2008 season remaining on his Yankees contract, and there's a remote chance that he could pitch by the end of the year.

—OF Bronson Sardinha and RHPs T.J. Beam, Darrell Rasner and Matt DeSalvo were cut loose by the club to open up roster spots for recently re-signed players, such as 3B Alex Rodriguez. Beam signed a minor league deal with the Pirates.

—RHP Joba Chamberlain told reporters in New York during a promotional appearance that the prospect of starting or relieving was "a win-win" proposition for him. "Whether I pitch 200 innings or 90, I think the jobs are equal," Chamberlain said. "I hope I can help them any way." For now, Chamberlain is slated to be in the rotation.


BY THE NUMBERS: 10—Recently past or present significant Yankees who showed up in former Senator George Mitchell's report on illegal performance-enhancing drug use in baseball: RHP Roger Clemens, LHP Andy Pettitte, 1B Jason Giambi, LHP Ron Villone, RHP Kevin Brown, OF Gary Sheffield, LHP Mike Stanton, LHP Denny Neagle, OF David Justice and 2B Chuck Knoblauch.


QUOTE TO NOTE: "When I called Hank (Steinbrenner), if he hung up on me, I wouldn't have been surprised…I thought my career was over with the Yankees." —3B Alex Rodriguez, talking about his emotions and his regret after he opted out of his original Yankees contract.