Bronx Bomber Ball

Looking to bolster their future bullpen, the Yankees have once again selected a right-handed pitcher. With the 272 nd pick of the ninth round New York has selected right hander Austin Gardner out of The University of Texas-Arlington. Photo via utamavs.com

After a year-long hiatus, Bird is the word once again in New York. After missing the entire 2016 season due to injury, slugger Greg Bird has been named the Yankees starting first baseman for the 2017 season.   Photo Credit: AP / Matt Rourke

After a long, cold winter, Yankees pitchers and catchers finally report to spring training today, and the chase for 28 has officially begun. While this season’s starting rotation is in question, the Yankees remain well-stocked in the back end of their bullpen, even after the trade of Andrew Miller during the past trade deadline. Manager Joe Girardi will have the privilege of being able to use two-time All-Star Tyler Clippard in the seventh and homegrown three-time All-Star Dellin Betances in the eighth, with newly re-acquired fireballer Aroldis Chapman serving as the closer once again.   With all eyes on Chapman after recently signing a monster five-year, $86 million contract, this is a fine opportunity to look at the star setup man, Dellin Betances. Photo Credit: Fox Sports

Former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is known as one of the best shortstops of his era, racking up over 3,000 hits and five World Series championships during his 20 seasons in Major League Baseball. Aside from his sparkling baseball resume, Jeter is best known for his flair for the dramatic, shining brightest on the biggest stage. Jeter is remembered as one of the best clutch performers the game has ever seen.  Widely regarded by experts and fans alike as one of the greatest plays in baseball history, the "Flip Play" helped secure Jeter's spot in baseball history. Photo via Lohud Yankees Blog

Despite featuring one of the most detrimental trades in recent Yankees history, February 1 st  is a day that is usually forgotten by Bombers fans.   On this day in 1999, Yankees General Manager Bob Watson pulled off a trade that would go on to haunt the Yankees for the next 12 seasons.   18 years ago today New York traded highly touted third base prospect Mike Lowell to the Florida Marlins in exchange for Mark Johnson and Ed Yarnall, eventually proving to be one of the worst trades of Watson’s career. Photo via Bronx Baseball Daily

This week five years ago, a Yankees legend made the decision to bid farewell to the game he loved after a remarkable career.  On January 24 th , 2012, longtime Yankees catcher Jorge Posada announced at a press conference that he had played his final game in pinstripes. Posada had given his heart and soul to the game, but the aging catcher simply had nothing left in the tank. For Yankees fans everywhere, this was a somber day.  Posada’s retirement effectively made Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera the last active members of the ‘Core Four’ that had brought five World Series championships to the Bronx. Photo Credit: Mike Stobe | Getty Images

Over the course of baseball history, New Year’s Eve has remained relatively uneventful.   By this time of year, the Winter Meetings are usually over, and any teams planning on making a big splash in the free agent market most likely would have done so already.   This wasn’t the case in 1974. Photo via Si.com

As the 2016 season came to a close for the Yankees in early October, the organization and its fans bid farewell to a longtime friend.   The Yankees starting first baseman since their championship season of 2009 hung up his spikes for one last time.   Photo Credit: Chris McGrath | Getty Images