--The Yankees matched the $1 million donation made by Major League Baseball and the Players Association to tsunami relief. Said commissioner Bud Selig: "Major League Baseball has always appreciated the Yankees' generosity and their commitment to those in need. This reaction to the tsunami disaster is in keeping with their long history of good works. On behalf of baseball, I am grateful to George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees for this wonderful gesture."

--RHP Steve Karsay, who missed most of last season recovering from shoulder surgery, is expected to begin his offseason throwing season shortly.

--RF Gary Sheffield, who underwent shoulder surgery after the season, is expected to be ready for spring training.

--The Yankees brought back 1B Tino Martinez, signing the free-agent to a one-year, $2.7 million contract as insurance for Jason Giambi. Martinez, who replaced Don Mattingly after the 1995 season, was one of the more popular Yankees during the team's run of four World Series titles in five years, 1996-2000. Ideally, the Yankees would like to get rid of Giambi, who in grand jury testimony confessed to using steroids.

BY THE NUMBERS
51 -- Randy Johnson's uniform number throughout his career. With the Yankees, it is already taken by CF Bernie Williams.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"Pitching was our priority." -- GM Brian Cashman on why the Yankees weren't active in the bidding for free-agent OF Carlos Beltran.

Copyright (C) 2005 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.