Around the Empire: Yankees News - 4/9/15

LoHud | Chad Jennings: Michael Pineda could be the best pitcher on the Yankees' pitching staff this year.

New York Post | John DeMarzo: One of the biggest Cuban prospects, 30-year-old third baseman Yulieski Gourriel, has made it clear to the media that he wants to play with the best players in the world, and alongside his favorite player, Alex Rodriguez. However, there's one problem that is keeping him from reaching his dream.

ESPN New York | Wallace Matthews: Even though every baseball fan now thinks that Masahiro Tanaka is injured after one bad start, manager Joe Girardi told the media that he met with Tanaka to clarify why he is throwing the ball slower this season. Apparently, the problem was just lost in translation.

LoHud | Chad Jennings: After Girardi selected John Ryan Murphy to be the backup to Brian McCann on this year's Yankees team, the organization put Austin Romine on waivers. He somewhat surprisingly cleared, so he was sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre. We'll see how long Murphy serves as backup, and if there will be a change at all over the course of the season.

Yankees.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees brought reliever Chris Martin in during the offseason to try and put some more depth into the bullpen. He was superb in his first two appearances. Martin is a veteran, but he had missed time a few years back due to injury.