Yankees on the bubble

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DAVID AARDSMA, RHP
Career: 13-15, 4.22 ERA, 69 saves
2012: 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 0 saves
Aardsma, who has experience closing, is competing for one of the final spots in the bullpen. He has somewhat of an edge because (1) he has late-inning experience and (2) the Yankees have invested a year of rehab in him. He's likely up against David Herndon, David Phelps or Clay Rapada.
Photo Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams, Jr.

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ZOILO ALMONTE, OF
Career: .266, 70 HR, 327 RBIs (minors)
2012: .277, 21 HR, 70 RBIs (minors)
If the Yankees’ more experienced outfield options in Matt Diaz and Juan Rivera fail to impress this spring, Almonte could be considered for a backup outfield role. He has experience in all three outfield spots, with most of his games coming in right field. The switch-hitter could complement the Yankees’ all lefthanded-hitting outfield.
Photo Credit: AP

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FRANCISCO CERVELLI, C
Career: .271, 5 HR, 71 RBIs
2012: .000, 0 HR, 0 RBIs
With an unsettled catching spot, nearly anyone with backstop credentials could claim the starting job for the Yankees in 2013. Cervelli has showed an ability to hit for contact, and his enthusiasm has made him a fan favorite. But he took a 2012 demotion badly, and failed to produce in the minors. That combination reportedly complicated his relationship with the Yankees' decision makers. He's up against Austin Romine and Chris Stewart for the starting spot.
Photo Credit: AP

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MATT DIAZ, OF/DH
Career: .291, 45 HR, 225 RBIs
2012: .222, 2 HR, 13 RBIs
Diaz was brought into camp with an eye on him being the right side of a designated hitter platoon. Though Diaz has been excellent against lefties for his career, injuries have limited his effectiveness the last few seasons. He's mainly up against Juan Rivera for the job.
Photo Credit: AP

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DAVID HERNDON, RHP
Career: 2-8, 3.85 ERA, 1.47 WHIP
2012: 0-1, 4.70 ERA, 1.43 WHIP
Herndon pitched for the Phillies the past three seasons and is trying to stick in middle relief for the Yankees. He'll have to outpitch competition such as David Aardsma, David Phelps and Clay Rapada for a chance to claim a job.
Photo Credit: AP

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DAN JOHNSON, 1B
Career: .237, 56 HR, 194 RBIs
2012: .364, 3 HR, 6 RBIs
The left-handed Johnson is being looked at as a bench player and pinch-hitter. He's got power, but isn't a great contact bat. His limited defensive flexibility and the presence of Travis Hafner could squeeze him out.
Photo Credit: AP

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MELKY MESA, OF
Career: .244, 84 HR, 320 RBIs (minors)
2012: .264, 23 HR, 67 RBIs (minors)
If neither Matt Diaz or Juan Rivera impress in camp, Mesa could find himself vying for a spot as a backup outfielder. He’s most familiar with centerfield but has also played right in the minors. As a right-handed hitter, he would complement the Yankees’ lefty-swinging outfield trio. He also has 102 stolen bases in his minor-league career, bringing a possible speed component off the bench.
Photo Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams, Jr.

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JAYSON NIX, UT
Career: .214, 34 HR, 102 RBIs
2012: .243, 4 HR, 18 RBIs
Nix showed some power in 2012 and had solid, if unspectacular hands, while manning second base, shortstop, third base and left field for the Yankees. He's never hit for better than the .243 average he posted last year and is up against a superior hitter, but inferior fielder, in Eduardo Nunez.
Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac

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IVAN NOVA, RHP
Career: 29-14, 4.38 ERA, 1.40 WHIP
2012: 12-8, 5.02 ERA, 1.46 WHIP
Nova has two ways to make the roster -- as the fifth starter, a role which he’s likely favored for to start the spring, or as a long reliever/spot-starter. Nova went 3-6 with a 6.38 ERA from July 3 on in 2012, leading to his being left out of the playoff rotation. That poor performance could knock him out of a rotation spot in 2013. He’s competing with David Phelps for the fifth starter.
Photo Credit: David Pokress

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EDUARDO NUNEZ, UT
Career: .272, 7 HR, 48 RBIs
2012: .292, 1 HR, 11 RBIs
Nunez has a potent bat, brings athleticism to an aging team and is capable of playing several infield positions. But his defensive miscues and errant throws while at those positions earned him a demotion to Triple-A last season, and the Yankees may rather see him get consistent playing time in the minors rather than sporadic replacement work at the major-league level. He's mainly up against Jayson Nix for the job.
Photo Credit: Getty

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DAVID PHELPS, RHP
Career: 4-4, 3.34 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
2012: 4-4, 3.34 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
Phelps excelled as a long reliever/spot starter in 2012 and could be back in that role in 2013. But he could also push Ivan Nova out of the starting rotation and claim the starting spot. He performed well when given the chance to start last season, going 2-2 with a 3.77 ERA in 11 starts.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

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CLAY RAPADA, LHP
Career: 8-0, 4.15 ERA, 1.36 WHIP
2012: 3-0, 2.82 ERA, 1.20 WHIP
Boone Logan is, barring injury, essentially assured of a spot in the bullpen. Rapada is the logical choice for a second lefty, a role he filled well last season. But several right-handers, such as David Aardsma or David Herndon, could have strong springs and push Rapada out of a job.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

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JUAN RIVERA, OF/DH
Career: .274, 132 HR, 539 RBIs
2012: .244, 9 HR, 47 RBIs
Rivera is trying to make the majors with the Yankees – again. He debuted with the Yankees in 2001, but is now looking to become the right-handed side of a DH platoon. A defensive liability in the outfield, he's best when fielding is taken out of the equation and he has a bat in his hands against left-handed pitching. He's mainly competing against Matt Diaz for a spot.
Photo Credit: David Pokress

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AUSTIN ROMINE, C
Career: .158, 0 HR, 0 RBIs
2012: Played in minors
Romine is projected to hit for a good average at the major-league level, but it remains to be seen if he has enough seasoning to stick, at least at the start of the season. A back injury during 2012 spring training took Romine out of the back-up mix then. Romine only played in 31 minor league games in 2012. He's up against Francisco Cervelli for a catching job.
Photo Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams, Jr.

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CHRIS STEWART, C
Career: .217, 4 HR, 26 RBIs
2012: .241, 1 HR, 13 RBIs
Stewart was the Yankees’ backup catcher last season and worked especially well with CC Sabathia. Given the Yankees’ dearth of experienced options behind the plate, he’s likely to assume the same role this season. But a strong spring by Austin Romine could lead the Yankees to cut the relatively cheap Stewart.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

Yankees on the bubble

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