Around the Empire: Yankees news - 11/4/15

LoHud | Chad Jennings: Updating the state of Yankees currently playing in action, including 2015 MLB swingman Bryan Mitchell, who is building up innings in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

NJ.com | Charles Curtis: After rumors of his engagement emerged last week, Derek Jeter subtly confirmed it in a piece on the Players' Tribune about his new dog, Kane. Naturally.

YES Network | Lou DiPietro: In some minor league transaction news, the Yankees have let 2010 draft pick Kyle Roller go and re-signed organizational catcher Eddy Rodriguez, who supposedly had a good relationship with top catching prospect Gary Sanchez. Roller was an eighth rounder out of East Carolina University and did a fair amount of mashing from the first base/DH position during his Yankees tenure, but he never cracked the big league level despite 227 games in Triple-A. The numbers were nice, but the strikeouts were high and scouts weren't exactly in love with Roller's approach at the plate. Alas.

MiLB.com: The Yankees' short-season affiliate, the Staten Island Yankees, announced their 2016 schedule. Get to a game sometime, their park is gorgeous.

NY Daily News | Jeff Bradley: Upon the 23rd anniversary of the trade, the Daily News re-ran their original news story about the Paul O'Neill deal. Throwback! My favorite part:

Yet, in the end, it does seem that the return the Yankees received from Kelly, once labeled an "untouchable" and the next great Yankee center fielder, was not up to par. Most observers figured that he would be a piece of a trade for California pitcher Jim Abbott. Instead, he was dealt for an outfielder who could well end up platooning.

"Pitching is still our No. 1 priority," Michael said. "I’ve been assured that we’ll be able to go after free agents and a trade still might work itself out. But we thought this was another way to improve our ballclub.

"You’re always gambling," Michael concluded.

Stick Michael: The king.