"So far it's been a very trying and empty winter for Brian Cashman and the Yankees, between the futile pursuit of Cliff Lee, the adamant unavailability of Seattle's "King Felix" Hernandez and Andy Pettitte's annual ongoing "Hamlet" act. There remain gaping holes in the Yankee pitching staff, both in the starting rotation and the set-up relief corps, where people seem to have forgotten how Kerry Wood saved their season last year.

Having struck out everywhere in his quest to land a frontline starter, Cashman has since sought to strengthen the staff from the back end, only to run into another stonewall with Kansas City Royals GM Dayton Moore's refusal to consider offers for his closer Joakim Soria. Moore's "no way" stance on Soria - who recently said he would waive his no-trade clause and approve a deal to the Yankees - is puzzling. When Moore traded Royals ace Zack Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers last month for four prospects, none of which was considered exceptional, he said this was precisely the kind of deal he needed to be making as he continues to stock the K.C. farm system with a bumper crop of talent for delivery by 2014."