With pitchers and catchers about 29 or so days away from today. Its time to seriously take a look into this.

This is assuming that nothing else is going to be changing, no more trades, no more signings, nothing. 

We essentially have seven guys fighting for 5 rotation spots. Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Vasquez, Gaudin, Hughes, and Joba. The first four are a lock, Gaudin is most likely heading to the bullpen again, leaving us a fight between Hughes and Joba for the final rotation spot. The winner getting the spot, the loser either heading to the bullpen or starting the season off with Scranton Wilkes-Barre. 

The bullpen seems to be wide open. Im assuming that were going with 7 bullpen spots. (9 position players (including DH), 4 bench, 5 rotation, the remaining in the bullpen).  Mo is guaranteed. Leaving us with 6 spots. We have the following fighting for those 6 spots: Joba, Hughes, Gaudin, Melancon, Aceves, Albaladejo, Logan, Marte, Mitre, Ramirez, and Robertson. This is where the real battle is going to be. Its something to think about, who wil be breaking camp with the team, and who will be heading over to Scranton?

Joba will be the fifth starter, Hughes to the pen (no use in sending him to triple-A), Gaudin in the pen as well.

I see the bullpen shaping up as Mo, Hughes, Marte, Robertson, Gaudin, Aceves and Mitre. possibly Albaladejo (although I don't really care about that last spot in the pen. it's open competition.)

I think the case can be made for both Joba and Phil to be the #5 starter: Joba's got a full season of starting under his belt and would (FINALLY) be let loose with no more "Joba Rules". Plus he'll be a year wiser so he can learn from his mistakes and be more efficient. Phil could benefit from that same one year w/innings limit as Joba did, and he'll need to if the Yankees see him as a starter going forward.

Y'all know where I stand on Joba, but if Phil hasthe better spring I'd deal with Joba in the 'pen AS LONG AS HE'S NOT GETTING SWITCHED IN AND OUT.

As far as the bullpen goes, I see it shaping up like this: Mo, Phil/Joba, Marte, Aceves, Robertson, Gaudin, Logan (because Joe loves to have that 2nd lefty)  

The wasy I see it, Joba and Hughes are the only two viable options for the 5 spot depsite the claims that gaudin, Aceves, mitre are also competing. I think Gaudin and Aceves are better suited coming out of the bullpen and Mitre does not even warrant a spot on the 25 man roster in my opinion.

 The way I see things ending up is that Joba is the guy who opening day is the #5 starter. Halfway through the year, Girardi and his coaches do a serious evaluation as to whether Joba should remain the second half of the year in the rotation, and if they decide no, then Hughes starts working himself up to make some late season starts.

 As for the bullpen, I think it looks like this

Aceves,Gaudin,Robertson,Marte,Joba/Hughes,Mariano,Logan