--RHP Mike Mussina was reportedly scheduled to meet with his agent, Arn Tellem, in late October to decide if he would retire. Most reports have Mussina leaning toward doing so after posting the first 20-win season of his career and reaching the 270-victory mark. Mussina has said if he returns it likely would be to commit to three years and a shot at 300 wins. Yankees GM Brian Cashman told reporters, "I'm not counting on him right now" because he's not signed and indications have been that Mussina would retire.
--RHP Chien-Ming Wang, who missed the last half of 2008 with an injured foot, has been doing well in his rehab and was given a thumbs-up by doctors during a recent checkup in New York. Wang has been throwing pain-free bullpen sessions. --RHP Phil Hughes got off to a rough start in the Arizona Fall League, yielding 13 earned runs on 15 hits in his first 15 2/3 innings. Along with the bad numbers, an anonymous scout quoted in a column by Joel Sherman of the New York Post said the Yankees' young righty was having plenty of problems with his delivery. "He couldn't command his fastball to the corners at all," the scout told the Post. "Only about half his curves were good and only about one in four were in the strike zone. ... I think the problem is that his elbow is too low so he is not commanding because he is not throwing downhill. His command stinks because his motion stinks." The Yankees hope Hughes -- whom they declined to trade in a package for Johan Santana last offseason -- can regain the form that made them invest so heavily in his future.
--C Jorge Posada is progressing well in his rehab from shoulder surgery, general manager Brian Cashman told reporters. Cashman also made a statement that will surely please Posada, who has exhibited frustration whenever the topic of him moving to first has arisen. "The plan is for Jorge Posada to be our catcher," Cashman said.
--Two high-profile possibilities to fill the Yankees' open third base coaching position have been reportedly deemed either unlikely or impossible. Larry Bowa, a former Yankees coach under Joe Torre -- who was renowned for staying on 2B Robinson Cano when he didn't hustle -- was retained by the Dodgers as a coach under Torre. Willie Randolph also is unlikely to return home to the Bronx. He reportedly turned down an offer to be a bench coach for Washington while still getting paid by the Mets, who fired him as manager last season.
BY THE NUMBERS: 13 -- Earned runs RHP Phil Hughes allowed in his first 15 2/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I can't say I'm confident about anything. I wouldn't represent what goes on in other people's lives." -- Yankees GM Brian Cashman, on whether Joba Chamberlain would learn from his mistake after a recent DUI arrest.
