Around the Empire: Yankees news - 3/8/17

NBC Sports | Craig Calcaterra: Anyone who had hopes of Alex Rodriguez joining the YES Network will be disappointed, but A-Rod has joined Fox Sports on a full-time basis. While there were talks earlier about him possibly joining YES, it seems Fox liked what they saw of him from their postseason shows the last two seasons to offer him a permanent job. It’s unfortunate YES couldn’t work out a deal with him, but awesome to see A-Rod doing full-time baseball analysis so fans can get more exposure to a brilliant baseball mind.

FanRag Sports | John Perrotto: In case you’ve been under a rock for the past year, the Yankees have been trending younger. Though they’ve spent the last few years having a reputation as a last-stop retirement home for aging players, the team is doing their best to fight that reputation. The fans and the organization are both looking forward to the youth movement’s potential success, but the organization believes that the veterans around the team can help mold the young players. They have a good balance right now of older and younger players.

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty: Over the last few months, there have been a decent amount of articles written about the Yankees’ grooming/facial hair policy. Even I’ve written about the policy and how it’s outdated. The conversation starter has been Clint Frazier’s hair, but now even CC Sabathia has thrown himself into the mix. Making his first spring training start yesterday, Sabathia had a light and groomed beard. Joe Girardi said he doesn’t pay close attention to the players’ grooming until he’s told from someone above him that there’s a problem. Until then, Girardi says he didn’t mind or notice Sabathia’s beard.

New York Post | Ken Davidoff: Since last August, the Yankees farm system has undergone a complete overhaul. The prospects acquired during last season’s trade deadline have largely overshadowed the prospects that were already in the organization. One of the team’s best secrets is center fielder Dustin Fowler. Fowler has earned praise from scouts, the organization, and even other prospects like Clint Frazier who seem to have stolen the spotlight. If he keeps on doing what he has been, the Yankees won’t be able to keep him as a hidden gem for too long though.

New York Daily News | Mike Mazzeo: Greg Bird knows he has a job to earn. Even though he’s the favorite to be Mark Teixeira’s successor, he knows he still has to earn the first base job. When the Yankees signed Chris Carter, the talk of the town was that Carter would start against left-handers either at first base or DH. Bird, for his part, is doing his job to only give Carter at-bats as a DH, as he does his best to secure the first base job. Bird asked Andy Pettitte, who’s in camp as an instructor, to throw him some extra batting practice so he can see more time against lefties. #GREGBIRD