New York Yankees

New York Yankees third baseman Kevin Youkilis has been out since last Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays (in Toronto) with a sore lower back. There were no initial plans to place him on the 15-day disabled list, though that could now become an option.

Imagine a Major League Baseball trade deadline where the New York Yankees are in Miami Marlins mode: Everything must go.

If there ever was a year for it to happen, it's this year.

...Not that I'm counting on it, mind you.

Like, oh, pretty much everyone else, I had my doubts about the Bombers heading into the season. With guys like Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez out of commission, the Yanks went into Opening Day looking like a collection of pinstriped impostors.

As I suggested during the offseason, Brian Cashman's low-key moves are paying off.

With the 2014 payroll target looming, the Yankees did not want to commit big money or multiple years to the free-agent crop of this past winter, so they made moves to fill their holes in less conventional ways. 

In the Yankees' world these days, good health is hardly anything to take for granted. But if we're willing to live in a fantasy world for a moment and employ ceteris paribus, or hold all things constant with good health, the Yankees have to be pleased with the performance of their top three starting pitchers so far.

If you think the New York Yankees look different this year, just wait a while. There's going to be a ton of turnover in The Bronx over the next couple years.

The New York Yankees' payroll is also going to be a topic of conversation because of how much money is spent to put a product on the field. However, this season is different due to all the money being invested for what is clearly an inferior product. 

Robinson Cano is a free agent after the 2013 season (as I'm sure you all know) and will now be seeking new representation after firing Scott Boras early Tuesday morning (via Buster Olney of ESPN.com).

For the first time in a long time, the only piece of the New York Yankees' roster that seems to be set in stone in their starting pitching.

Normally, their lineup is star-studded and it is the pitching that is in flux. However, a mix of injuries and departures has rendered the Yankees offense anemic and it will be up to their rotation to carry the load in 2013. 

I've never been comfortable with the Yankees' current catching situation.

Especially because the Yankees lost their previous one, who was looking for more money, to free agency.

And then, I got an idea for a potential starter.

On Tuesday, I had first mentioned the idea of Ramon Hernandez for the Yankees.

What are the odds of longtime New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter retiring after 2013?

Right now, I'd have to say about equivalent to those of an asteroid made of cotton candy colliding with the earth, which I presume are pretty close to zero.