By C. Trent Rosecrans

Earlier Thursday, Yankees reliever David Robertson's injury was something to laugh at -- he fell down a flight of stairs while moving boxes at his spring training home. Even Robertson got a good laugh.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi wasn't laughing Thursday night after an MRI showed "cause for concern" on the right midfoot of his right-handed set-up man.

Girardi told reporters, including MLB.com, that Robertson returned to a Tampa hospital for more tests on Thursday. Girardi was scheduled to have a CT scan and a weight-bearing X-ray taken on his foot.

The team's doctor will review the tests and consult with a foot specialist, before reporting to the Yankees on Friday.

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.

By Matt Snyder

We can add another name to the long list of major-leaguers with a dubious injury. It wasn't exactly carrying deer meat (ahem, Clint Barmes) or a sneeze (c'mon down, Sammy Sosa!), but All-Star Yankees setup man David Robertson has a sprained right foot, courtesy of a fall while the right-hander was moving boxes in his spring training home.

Worse yet, in the embarrassment department, Robertson wasn't even carrying a heavy load.

''They were empty boxes. They weren't even heavy boxes,'' Yankees manager Joe Girardi said (Associated Press). ''I told him to kick them down the stairs the next time.''

Initial X-rays were negative and he's been taken in for an MRI.

'''I'm concerned,'' Girardi said (AP). ''It hurt him to walk, (and) you assume that he's going to be down a little bit of time even if everything comes back OK. Now that doesn't mean he wouldn't have time to get ready for the season. But you've got to start over a little bit.''

Girardi also noted that Robertson could still be ready to make the opening day roster if he's sidelined less than two weeks from this point. The Yankees do have insurance in the eighth inning, should Robertson be sidelined, as Rafael Soriano can slide right in as the setup man. Still, losing Robertson for any amount of time.

Robertson, 26, was easily one of the most dominant relief pitchers in all of baseball last season. He made his first All-Star Game, putting together a 1.08 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 100 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings.

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.

By Dayn Perry​

Phil Hughes, Yankee rotation hopeful, showed improved velocity in his spring debut on Wednesday, reports Marc Carig of the Newark-Star Ledger. Insofar as the Yankees' interests are concerned, that's of course a good thing. 

Last season, Hughes suffered diminished velocity early on and shortly thereafter spent almost three months on the DL with shoulder inflammation. He showed more oomph on the fastball after his return from injury, and said oomph was still with him on Wednesday in his first Grapefruit League appearance. 

Needless to say, Hughes will need to maintain that low- to mid-90s fastball as the season wears on and avoid the shoulder problems that hindered him in 2011. While the Yankees have done much to improve the rotation this offseason -- e.g., trading for Michael Pineda, signing Hiroki Kuroda and making A.J. Burnett go away -- a healthy and vintage Hughes may be necessary if they're going to win baseball's toughest division. 

​​​​For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.

By Matt Snyder

In case you haven't heard -- and over here at Eye on Baseball we'll forgive you if you missed it -- long-time Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is parting ways with the only professional franchise he's ever known. [Head over to Eye on Football for full coverage]

Anyway, Manning has lots of things in common with Derek Jeter of the Yankees. In addition to having been the face of each's particular sport for a long period of time, and evidently being clones in how they watch NBA games (see above, from a 2006 Miami Heat game), the two became poster children for spending a long career with the same team. Jeter's still locked up with the Yankees for the next few years, but no more for Manning. And Jeter has weighed in:

"It's just weird. You know, it always seems like some guys should be with one team their entire career," he said of Manning's departure from Indy. (via Sweeny Murti of WFAN)

Jeter does have a good perspective on this. He's entering his 18th season with the Yankees. Jorge Posada retired this offseason after 17 years in pinstripes and Mariano Rivera is beginning his 18th campaign for the Yankees. Such a trio staying together on one team these days is very rare. It probably could only happen on the Yankees and in baseball, considering the lack of a salary cap, but it's still pretty cool those three stuck together for all those years.

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.

By Matt Snyder

Brewers starting pitcher Shaun Marcum still has a stiff shoulder. For more, check out Danny Knobler's blog on the subject, as he's on site.

As for the rest, here's Wednesday's injury wrap:

• A's first baseman Daric Barton has been shut down for three days after requiring a second cortisone shot in his surgically-repaired shoulder. Per MLB.com, the chances of Barton making the opening-day roster are "slimming by the day."

• Mets ace Johan Santana is all set for his Tuesday start against the Cardinals (ESPN New York).

• Also in Mets news, third baseman David Wright missed Monday's game with his lingering ribcage stiffness. He previously said he'd be playing if these were regular-season games but was expected to suit up and give it a go Monday. Meanwhile, Ike Davis -- who the Mets believe has Valley Fever -- is scheduled to play both Monday and Tuesday for three innings (MLB.com).

• Marlins ace Josh Johnson had a 41-pitch, "pain-free" start Monday. He's moving forward slowly, but the Marlins project him atop their rotation. (MLB.com)

• Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was hit in the hand with a pitch last week. He was fortunate to avoid any breaks, but is still suffering from the bruise and swelling. His batting practice session was cut short Monday and he'll wait a few more days before trying again (Rays Report).

• Just one week after dislocating his kneecap, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is going to be in the lineup for his club's spring game Tuesday (AJC.com via Twitter).

• Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez "likely will play" in an exhibition game later this week, but here's the big news: Buster Posey "could join him." Getting Posey into game action this early in the spring as he looks to return from a broken leg would obviously be huge. He has already been cleared to hit in a game and will likely be used as a DH at first (same with Sanchez). "We don't need setbacks. We just don't want to risk anything," said manager Bruce Bochy.

Monday night's game is on TV, but Bochy still won't risk going with Posey. "I know they [fans] want to see him. We do, too, but it's not worth the risk."

Also in Giants news, Brian Wilson will face hitters Wednesday and is scheduled to pitch in a game March 11. They are also hoping Ryan Vogelsong can throw off a mound Thursday. (All info courtesy of Knobler, who was in camp)

• New Reds closer Ryan Madson has been shut down for a few days with irritation in his throwing elbow, but he'll resume throwing Tuesday. He called it a "normal" and said it's happened to him the "past couple of years." (MLB.com)

• Yankees infielder Eduardo Nunez was hit in the right hand with a pitch Monday. His X-rays were negative and -- like Longoria -- has a bruised hand. (MLB.com)

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.

By Dayn Perry

The Yankees' most ballyhooed offseason addition, right-hander Michael Pineda, has made his pinstripe-y spring debut. While early spring outings aren't terribly illuminating, it's safe to characterize Pineda's afternoon as "so far, so good." In two scoreless, Pineda fanned two, walked none and surrendered only one hit--a leadoff single to Jimmy Rollins. At one point, Pineda served up six consecutive swinging strikes to Shane Victorino and Jim Thome.

Best of all, YES Network's Jack Curry tweets that Pineda used his fledgling changeup often and to great effect. Going forward, that'll be important for Pineda, who'll need an effective change piece to neutralize the opposite side in Yankee Stadium.

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.

By C. Trent Rosecrans

The sad story of Brien Taylor took another turn on Thursday, as the former top overall pick was arrested on charges of cocaine trafficking, according to the Daily News in Jacksonville, N.C.

Taylor was the No. 1 pick in the 1991 draft by the Yankees and with agent Scott Boras, signed a $1.55 million contract, a record at the time.

Two years later, Taylor suffered a torn labrum in his throwing arm while defending his brother in a fight and was never the same. He was released by the Yankees after the 1998 season and then pitched in the minor-league systems of the Mariners and Indians before retiring in 2000. The left-hander was the second No. 1 overall pick to never play in the big leagues. The first was Steve Chilcott in 1966.

According to the Daily News, the 40-year-old Taylor was arrested after local police had purchased a "large quantity of cocaine and crack cocaine" from Taylor over the course of several months. He's charged with two counts each of trafficking in cocaine by possession, trafficking in cocaine by sell, trafficking in cocaine by deliver, trafficking in cocaine by manufacture, trafficking in cocaine by transport and felony maintaining a vehicle. He is also charged with one count each of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine and sell and deliver cocaine. He was placed in the Carteret County Jail under a $275,000 bond.

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.

By Matt Snyder

The New York Yankees are going to be doing a little tightening of the belt. Thursday, managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner told reporters that the "goal" is to have the payroll below $189 million before the 2014 season. That's not an arbitrary placement or year and monetary figure, either, as baseball's new collective bargaining agreement has set the luxury tax threshold at $189 million and it goes into effect starting in 2014. Also, goal may not be the correct word here.

"I'm looking at it as a goal, but my goals are normally considered requirements," Steinbrenner said (Associated Press). "Is it a requirement with baseball that we be at 189? No, it's not a requirement. But that is going to be the luxury-tax threshold, and that's where I want to be."

The Yankees were hit with a $13.9 million luxury tax last season.

The Yankees are heading for opening day with a payroll of around $210 million this season, according to Steinbrenner. Here's what the opening day payrolls have looked like since 2004, the last time the Yankees weren't over $189 million, via Baseball Prospectus' Cot's Contracts:

2004: $184,193,950
2005: $208,306,817
2006: $194,663,079
2007: $189,639,045
2008: $209,081,577
2009: $201,449,189
2010: $213,359,389
2011: $207,047,964

Steinbrenner sounds like he wants to -- at least mildly -- shift focus, too.

"I'm a finance geek. I guess I always have been. That's my background," he said (MLB.com). "Budgets matter, and balance sheets matter. I just feel that if you do well on the player development side and you have a good farm system, you don't need a $220 million payroll. You don't. You can field every bit as good a team with young talent."

It's going to be interesting to see how they squeeze down under the threshold, because Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and Alex Rodriguez are due to make over $70 million combined in 2014. Derek Jeter has an $8 million player option, too. You also have to assume Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson are going to command huge paydays (both have club options in 2013 but are free agents after that). Brett Gardner and David Robertson will be in their final year of arbitration while Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda are also still under club control. Otherwise, the roster will have to be filled out from the farm system, trades or free agency.

The Yankees do have some promising young prospects like pitchers Dellin Betances and Manuel Banuelos.

"We'll see how these young kids perform towards the end of this year and into next year," Steinbrenner said (AP). "The young kids are going to play a big part of being able to lower this payroll. I am going to need some of these young pitchers to step up."

Still, the bottom line is we might be seeing a lot more offseasons like this one -- where the Yankees take a backseat on the huge free agent signings.

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook.