Masahiro Tanaka baffles Tigers as Yankees cruise to win in Tampa

Masahiro Tanaka retired 12 batters in order — the first six on strikeouts — in four perfect innings to lead the New York Yankees’ 7-1 win over the Detroit Tigers Saturday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Tigers starter Daniel Norris also pitched well, but he surrendered a two-run, wind-aided home run to Gary Sanchez in the first inning.

Pineda dominates with 5 straight strikeouts

One year after Michael Pineda ‘s inconsistency had the Yankees baffled, his spring debut offered a tantalizing reminder that the best may still be yet to come. Pineda was dominant as he toed the rubber against the Tigers at Publix Field on Saturday, pounding the zone to strike out five consecutive batters over two scoreless innings.

Wieters joins Nationals; Judge hits long homer for Yankees

In this May 31, 2016 file photo, Matt Wieters, then with the Baltimore Orioles, waits for the pitch as home plate umpire Cory Blaser watches during the third inning of a baseball game as Boston Red Sox’ Travis Shaw bats, in Baltimore. The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with a 2018 player option with catcher Matt Wieters on Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.

A look at the NL East at the start of spring training

In this May 24, 2016, file photo, then-Toronto Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey delivers against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game in New York. Former NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey signed with the the Atlanta Braves on a one-year contract in the off-season, as the team added a 42-year-old knuckleballer to a thin rotation as the team moves into a new ballpark.

Hal Steinbrenner says Yankees will try to get under luxury tax

The Bombers have paid the luxury tax in 14 consecutive seasons — and will continue to spend big — but the franchise’s goal is still to get below the $197 million luxury tax threshold by 2018. “We will put money back into the club like we always do,” Yanks owner Hal Steinbrenner told reporters Thursday while reiterating four times that his family will not be selling the franchise, “but I think the threshold is a good payroll.

Yankees Brian Cashman Says It Again: We’re Staying Pat

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman, in a far-ranging interview with Brian Hoch of MLB.com , indicated that the team will stay “engaged” with other teams, but that the Yankees are not necessarily looking to make any major changes in the structure of the 2017 team at this time. Yankees GM Brian Cashman did not say anything new in this most recent interview, but that is significant in and of itself because it demonstrates that the Yankees feel like they have the makings of a team that not only be competitive but also has a good chance to qualify for a position in the 2017 playoffs.

Hall of Fame case: Trevor Hoffman will find the Mo to get in

Hall of Fame case: Trevor Hoffman will find the Mo to get in The erstwhile all-times saves leader stacks up favorably with his contemporary. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2hq08bT USA TODAY Sports is examining the most intriguing cases on baseball’s 2017 Hall of Fame ballot ahead of the Jan. 18 election results.