Yankees’ call to arms a priority at meetings

A YEAR AGO, the Yankees went through an entire winter without signing a single major-league free agent. Expect that to change in the coming weeks, quite possibly this week when the Winter Meetings open Monday at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center outside of Washington, D.C. For weeks, general manager Brian Cashman has stressed the need to bolster his pitching staff, be it in the starting rotation or the bullpen. That will likely be the GM’s focus at the meetings, though finding a designated hitter to replace since-traded Brian McCann will also be on his agenda. The four biggest days of the offseason figure to have a lot of action, so follow @FeinsandNYDN and check nydailynews.com for all the latest on the Yankees and the rest of the action from around the majors. thinking. “But he’s not taking a discount. If the Yankees want him, they’ll have to pay for him.”

With Rich Hill reportedly re-signing with the Dodgers, the top remaining starters out there include Ivan Nova and Jason Hammel, though none represent a vast upgrade over what the Yankees already have, though each will cost considerably more money. Derek Holland is coming back from a couple of injuryfilled seasons, so he could be a low-risk, high-reward option. Gardner or Headley could be moved in a deal for a pitcher if the Yankees decide that the arms on the free-agent market do not appeal to them.