AL East Notes: Yankees, Red Sox, Rodriguez, Rays

Here's a look at some items out of the American League East as the Yankees and Red Sox continue to scour the market for pitching..

• The Red Sox are budget-conscious as they look to add to their rotation and one agent told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe that he believes it will continue.  “[GM Ben Cherington] is listening with free agents, but that’s it so far,’’ said the agent.  "I don’t think it’s an act, either. They’re hoping somebody falls to them and that may be it."
• In a piece for the New York Times, Rob Neyer takes a look back at the ten-year, $275MM deal Alex Rodriguez signed with the Yankees in December of 2007.  The Yankees have little reason to regret the signing so far but A-Rod remains under contract through 2017 when he'll turn 42.
• Ken Davidoff of Newsday looks at six different approaches that the Yankees can take to solve their rotation issues.  Davidoff doesn't like the odds of the club pulling an "old school" move and throwing money at the problem, which would likely mean giving Edwin Jackson a sizeable contract.  Instead, it seems likely that the Bombers will look for another lottery ticket and hope they hit it big, much as they did with Bartolo Colon in 2011.
• John Tomase of the Boston Herald suggests that the Rays pair up with the Angels to land either Mark Trumbo or Kendrys Morales.  The Halos seem content to keep both sluggers in the mix for now but it seems likely that they'll move at least one of them before the start of the season.  Tomase also credits recently-appointed Orioles GM Dan Duquette with prioritizing the rebuild of the front office over the on-field product in 2012.