--RHP Joba Chamberlain pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, and he received probation and a fine. He said he was pleased to put the legal matter behind him.

--RHP Jonathan Albaladejo won the job as the Yankees' long reliever after posting an 0.93 ERA this spring. He edged out RHPs Dan Giese and Alfredo Aceves (optioned to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) and RHP Brett Tomko (reassigned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre).

--3B Alex Rodriguez could be working out at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa by mid-April, and he could be back with the big-league club in mid-May, GM Brian Cashman said March 31. According to the GM, Rodriguez has made good progress since having arthroscopic surgery on his right hip on March 9.

--CF Brett Gardner earned the starting job over Melky Cabrera, and he will give the club a dimension it's been seeking for a while. Gardner's speed out of the No. 9 spot in the lineup could help set up the top of the lineup as the rookie gets a chance to play long term instead of only the glimpse he saw last season. Gardner was hitting .364 with three homers and five steals in Grapefruit League play through March 30; Cabrera was batting .345 with one homer and two steals.

--RHP Ivan Nova, who was chosen by the Padres in the Rule 5 draft during the offseason, was returned to the Yankees after failing to make San Diego's roster. Nova appeared in eight games for the Padres this spring, allowing 11 runs (eight earned) in 8 2/3 innings.

--LHP CC Sabathia will be given the chance to start earning his mega-deal immediately. Manager Joe Girardi announced the new ace will pitch the season opener on April 5 and the home opener at the new Yankee Stadium on April 16. "It feels good," Sabathia said after hearing the news. "You have to earn that. It took me awhile to get that with Cleveland. It feels good to come in here, get the ball and try to set the tone for us." Sabathia will get the ball three times in the Yankees' first 10 games as Girardi will take advantage of days off and tweak the rotation by pushing No. 5 starter Joba Chamberlain back a day.

--3B Alex Rodriguez was "doing well" and doing "a lot of work," general manager Brian Cashman recently reported regarding Rodriguez's rehab from his hip surgery. A-Rod, of course, has not fared as well off the field, where it's been a seemingly non-stop parade of negative headlines that began with the revelation of his past performance-enhancing drug use. The latest flap came from a New York Daily News report that said Rodriguez dated the madam of an escort agency. A report on SI.com recently said Yankees co-owners Hal and Hank Steinbrenner spoke with Rodriguez sometime during spring training to stress the need to focusing on baseball and avoid off-the-field distractions.

--OF/1B Nick Swisher wasn't thrilled about learning he would start the season on the bench but promised to do what he could to adjust and help the team. Manager Joe Girardi recently announced Xavier Nady had won the job in right field and the versatile Swisher would earn time in a variety of roles. "Coming over here, that was the biggest thing: I want to win; but I also want to be a part," a dejected Swisher told reporters after hearing the news. " ... I think there's going to be a lot of at-bats out there for me." Swisher can spell Nady, LF Johnny Damon and 1B Mark Teixeira and also could slip into center field occasionally.

BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Number of openers new Yankees ace CC Sabathia will pitch to start the season -- the season opener and the opening of the new Yankee Stadium.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It feels good to come in here, get the ball and try to set the tone for us." -- CC Sabathia on pitching the Yankees' season opener and home opener.