Around the Empire: New York Yankees News - 12/16/13

By Jason Cohen@Jason00Cohen Dec 16, 2013, 7:00am EST

Last Time on Pinstripe Alley

ESPN New York | Ian O'Connor: According to Randy Levine, the Yankees have no intention of trading Brett Gardner.
Star-Ledger | Andy McCullough: How did Jacoby Ellsbury decide on No. 22 for his new number with the Yankees.
ESPN New York: Alex Rodriguez is confident he will play in 2014.
New York Post | Ken Davidoff: Jacoby Ellsbury might be the biggest winner of the hot stove so far, while the Yankees are somewhere in the middle.
NoMaas | Vizzini: The Yankees should target the Mariners' Nick Franklin now that they are out of free agent options.
An A-Blog For A-Rod | Brad Veitrogoski: The Yankees should stay away from trading with the Cubs for Darwin Barney.
Pinstripe Pundits | Derek Albin: The Yankees' current bullpen doesn't project to very good in 2014, so they need to pursue someone like Grant Balfour and Joaquin Benoit.