The Yankees recently reached terms with two outfielders they may or may not have much use for next season.
The club avoided arbitration with Xavier Nady and Melky Cabrera by signing them to one-year deals, but it remains to be seen whether they will be on the roster or a big part of it next year. Nady, who signed for $6.65 million, could be used as trade bait because of the Yankees' abundance of corner outfielders.
Cabrera, who picked up a raise to $1.4 million after a season in which his stock dropped dramatically, might not get off the bench or escape the minors.
Nady's potential departure is all about money, while Cabrera's status comes down to performance as the club tries to patch together the back end of a roster filled with big contracts and blockbuster signings.
With Nick Swisher moving to the outfield thanks to the arrival of Mark Teixeira, Nady's pending free agent status against Swisher's multi-year deal could be the difference.
Cabrera, on the other hand, batted only .249 for the Yankees last season and fell to the minors. He will battle rookie Brett Gardner for the center-field job.
