Joba Chamberlain

The Cleveland Indians designated veteran reliever Joba Chamberlain for assignment Monday, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale. 

Chamberlain provided a statement on Twitter:

Most fans are well aware at this point of the New York Yankees' plan to cut payroll down to $189 million before the start of the 2014 season.

Entering the 2013, the Yankees have at least 10 significant players on their roster that can or will be free agents after the season.

Their budget plans will make it next to impossible to bring back everyone.

First of all, let me state that I have nothing against GM Brian Cashman or the New York Yankees organization. I know Cashman does his best to keep a playoff-contending team year in and out. 

What this is for is to just lay out the possibilities that "could have been," as the Yankees' goal towards 28th championship has officially started today.

Now, the following prospects are very hyped ones—or at least they used to be. 

The Yankees just can’t catch a break.

After dealing with an ailing Joba Chamberlain, Sergio Mitre and Greg Golson this spring, the oblique strain is back and is now affecting key player Curtis Granderson.

The right muscle strain caused the hitter to be scratched from the lineup on Tuesday and may deprive Granderson of participating in Opening Day on Thursday against his former team, the Detroit Tigers.

The American League East has been the best division in baseball since its creation in 1969. This is mainly because of the division's perennial top-two teams, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. These two bitter rivals have had many classic battles in the past, such as the unforgettable 2004 ALCS. This year should be no different.

The New York Yankees lost their first spring training game to the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, after a late rally opportunity was wasted.

It started out innocently enough.

Last Wednesday, Joba Chamberlain was among several Yankees pitchers to report early to the team's spring complex in Tampa, and some beat writers on the scene remarked on Twitter that the reliever looked as though he'd put on weight.

We all know that the Yankees have another solid team heading into the 2011 baseball season.  However, there is a reason why they are not the favorites this season and it is much bigger than failing to get Cliff Lee and barely attempting to get now new Boston Red Sox, Carl Crawford.

“Athlete” and “in shape” are often thought of as going together. It's part of the requirement, right?

You can't be one without the other.

Unless, of course, you are a major league baseball player. Then being fat is okay.

Maybe it's part of the appeal millions of Americans still have to what was once the national pastime, but baseball is a sport that can be played by the short or tall, fast or slow and in-shape or out of shape.

With Major League Baseball's spring training just around the corner, most teams are about done with their offseason shopping.

But for most clubs, that's just the first step—even once everyone has signed, there are still big decisions to be made about who will play and where.

Here's a look at each team's biggest position battle heading into Spring Training.

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