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Welcome back, Andy
As I've stated more than a few times over the last couple of months, I would have preferred to see the Yankees pull from within to fill their rotation and let Phil Hughes handle the fifth spot. However, from a financial and productive standpoint, one cannot argue with the decision to bring Andy Pettitte back on a one-year deal. Health providing, he'll give the Yankees around 200 innings, and really, what more can you want from a fifth starter? Go around the league once the season begins and Pettitte would probably rank among the top three or five in that category. Brian Cashman played the situation nicely.

Classless Joe
We've all heard about Joe Torre's book by now, and he certainly has the right to put anything he wants in print. I just think he's being very hypocritical in doing so. Torre always preached the idea of keeping things in the clubhouse, handling things from within, and now he writes a book that, while not necessarily a tell-all, will discuss some issues that will likely be at least a little bit sensitive to one or two players he managed during his time in the Bronx. It's certainly not a move that should be looked in a positive light while he's still working as an MLB manager. Maybe he wanted to strike while the iron was hot, but when a topic like the Yankees is in play, a book like that would sell no matter when it came out.

Until we meet again, Chase?
Not sure if anyone noticed, but Chase Wright was the player designated for assignment off the 40-man roster in order to make way for Pettitte's return. Hopefully, he clears and makes his way back to the Yankees' Minor League system. Fans who remember Wright will probably think of the disastrous start at Fenway Park a few years back in which he became just the second Major League pitcher to give up home runs to four straight batters. That being said, Wright put together a very solid year in the Minors in '08, going 9-3 with a 2.80 ERA. Was he a rotation candidate? Likely not. However, he could wind up being a good depth arm — after all, you can never have too many lefties, right? Since he's still in his mid-20s, I would think that a pitching-starved team out there wouldn't mind taking a flier on him.

Cano Can Do!
Many of the e-mail comments that I get from my readers centers on Robinson Cano. Before I continue, let me say that I enjoy reading everything you all have to say, and I encourage the comments to keep flowing into my inbox at ggiangrande@yesnetwork.com.

Some people want to move Cano, others are wondering what the team's long term plans are. Initially, when a guy like Jake Peavy was in play for a possible trade, I thought there might've been a chance he got dealt. As it stands right now though, I think the Yankees are committed to Cano for the long term, and not just in terms of a contract either. Hitting Coach Kevin Long spent significant time with Cano in the Dominican Republic during the offseason, and he raved about the work Cano had been doing. The youngster even hired a personal trainer, showing commitment on his own. More importantly in my eyes though, the Yankees hired a first base coach with a previous relationship with Cano in Mick Kelleher, and no matter what anyone up top says, that had to have played a role in their decision to hire him. Bottom line: this team is committed to Cano at second.

A Super Match-up In Tampa
Am I the only one who likes random match-ups? Every year when big sporting events like the Super Bowl and the NBA Finals roll around, we hear a lot about how "the networks" want certain teams to win and such. I think that's a big load of hooey, to put it mildly. Major sporting events like those are going to have ratings no matter what. Even if, say, a hypothetical Oklahoma City-Charlotte NBA Finals took place, it would still garner a decent viewership. It might be an all-time low for the event, but I'd take any random NBA Finals game over a re-run of Grey's Anatomy or something.

In addition, I also like random teams matching up, so when the NFL Playoffs began, I was rooting for San Diego vs. Atlanta. I tend to think that the unusual teams, or rather the teams that don't get much press, will draw the casual viewer out of curiosity. You get the hardcore fan and the Johnny Passerby that way, though in discussions with friend and co-workers, I often feel like things aren't generally seen my way in that regard.

Your 2015-16 Stanley Cup Champions: The Kansas City Islanders
Having been born and raised in New York City, rarely have I ever had to worry about my teams moving. Did anyone really think the Yankees were going to move to New Jersey all those years ago? I didn't think so. Knicks, nope. Jets, they were at the Meadowlands already when I was old enough to pay attention.

Then there's the Islanders, who were rumored to be moving to Seattle years ago when I was still an impressionable young fan. Now the rumors have begun to gain steam about their possibility of moving to Kansas City. Such rumors are still in their early stages, and like many others, I can't actually see them leaving. But man, it would feel terrible to see my favorite hockey team move. I know the Islanders are perceived to be a bit of a joke right now given their last place status, but after all the years I've already invested in rooting for them, the nights I've spent at the arena, being a part of one of the greatest first-round playoff series that any sport has seen in the last 20 years during the 2001-'02 season, it would be a real gut punch. The Town of Hempstead really needs to approve the Lighthouse Project out there.