Around the Empire: New York Yankees News - 12/28/2014

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty: Unless Max Scherzer significantly reduces his price, it appears that the current rotation will have to do. The team will have to work on developing Nathan Eovaldi, and hopefully rely on Chris Capuano for the fifth spot until Ivan Nova returns.

New York Daily News | Bill Madden: After 25 years, the Daily News revisits their coverage of the fatal car crash that took the life of longtime Yankees player and manager, Billy Martin.

Japan Times | Kyodo: Hiroki Kuroda has indeed signed with his former team the Hiroshima Carp, and the contract is reportedly listed as 400 million Yen ($3.3 million USD) plus performance-based bonuses. Given the team's financial commitment to both Kuroda and ace Kenta Maeda, the Carp are determined to win the pennant in 2015.

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty: The loss of Hiroki Kuroda doesn't mean that much; the Yankees were already preparing for him to depart or retire, and they already acquired who they felt to be decent alternatives in Eovaldi and Capuano.