Yankees add Silva to pitching mix

The Yankees signed Carlos Silva to a minor-league deal, sources tell SI.com. Silva joins a mix of veteran pitchers who will be options for the Yankees'

The Yankees signed Carlos Silva to a minor-league deal, sources tell SI.com.

Silva joins a mix of veteran pitchers who will be options for the Yankees' rotation, their one area of question. Silva, who was released by the Cubs after a rough spring, will be a rotation option for the Yankees along with Kevin Millwood and Bartolo Colon.

The Yankees' rotation right now has CC Sabathia as the ace but beyond that are a few question marks. A.J. Burnett has looked solid so far, but Phil Hughes has been roughed up, Ivan Nova is untested and Freddy Garcia is coming off a characteristically questionable spring.

Colon is in the 'pen while Millwood, who signed a non-guaranteed deal, is currently pitching in the minors.

Silva is 70-70 lifetime with a 4.68 ERA and was 10-6 with a 4.22 ERA last year with the Cubs. Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild was the Cubs' pitching coach last year. His $11.5 million salary will be paid by the Cubs, with the Yankees just picking up the minimum salary for the time he's in the majors.

Silva also has a $2 million buyout on a mutual $12 million option. The Yankees are only responsible for Silva's major-league minimum this year and won't pay the buyout. On the off-chance the Yankees decide to pick up Silva's option, they'd have to pay that -- but that would take quite a resurrection from Silva.