Via MLBTR, the Yankees have acquired recently DFA’d outfielder Justin Maxwell from the Washington Nationals. It’s not a huge move for the Yankees, but the 27-year-old Maxwell adds depth to the Triple A outfield rotation and may even become the Yanks fifth outfielder. Maxwell is described as ‘extremely athletic, possessing the ability to play all three outfield positions’. The Yankees will send pitcher Adam Olbrychowski to Washington.

Going into 2010, Maxwell was the eighth rated prospect in the Nationals organization. Maxwell has only produced 260 big league plate appearances, smacking nine home runs while posting a line of .201/.319/.379. Last season, Baseball America coined Maxwell as a ‘physical specimen with plus athleticism’. Maxwell had Tommy John surgery this off-season, but he should be ready to go for Spring Training.

Maxwell has one minor league option left, which is great. The Bombers won’t have to send him to waivers if he doesn’t start the season in New York. Maxwell is another prime example of how the Yankees are looking to shore up their bench. Maxwell is considered to be a more talented player than Greg Golson or Colin Curtis, so applaud the Cashman for making small moves necessary to improve the club .

After dropping six of their last seven, the Yankees NEEDED this game. The game appeared to be a cake walk with the Yanks holding a 6-0 lead after 4 1/2 innings. However, the Rays answered with seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-6 lead. The Yanks battled back in the sixth inning, knotting the score at 7 after a Robinson Cano RBI double. Curtis Granderson saved the game with a diving catch in the bottom of the ninth. Jorge Posada hit one of the furthest home runs I’ve ever seen at the Trop in the tenth inning and Greg Golson made one of the best plays of the season in the bottom of the frame, gunning the speedy Carl Crawford down at third base to end the game. The Yankees won the game, 7-6 and reclaim first place in the AL East.

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In the second game of a day/night doubleheader, the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers by a score of 8-0. Phil Hughes was dominant and the lineup added six insurance runs in the top of the ninth. The win puts the Yankees at 22-11 on the season.

Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images

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The injury bug has jumped up and bit the Yankees. Maybe the pitching bug will jump up and bite some solid outings into Javier Vazquez. Here’s a run down of injuries and side notes:

Mariano Rivera

I mentioned last night that the Yankees opted to go with Joba Chamberlain in the 9th inning instead of Mariano Rivera. Rivera apparently has a stiff side and is considered to be, day-to-day. It’d make sense for the Yankees to rest Rivera until this weekend’s series against Boston.

Jorge Posada

Posada left the game in the 5th inning last night due to calf stiffness. He was taken for X-Rays, but they came back negative. I don’t expect to see Posada until this weekend.

Greg Golson

The Yankees are expected to call up outfielder, Greg Golson from Scranton Wilkes Barre. Golson has hit .253 so far for Scranton, but is known more for his defense. The Yankees needed an extra outfielder, given Curtis Granderson’s injury. With the bullpen back in order, expect the Yankees send to pitcher, Mark Melancon back to Triple A.

Javier Vazquez

The Yankees have decided to skip over Vazquez’s scheduled start on Friday in Boston. Vazquez will now pitch Monday’s opener in Detroit.