Opinion

The New York Yankees are just a week into spring games, but several players have already started to create some buzz in camp.

The "buzz" we'll look at here is good buzz, of course. No A-Rod bashing, no harping on health issues, just standout performances that are starting to gain some extra notoriety.

Though there are a number of very deserving candidates, I narrowed this list down to six players who have all put up exemplary performances down in the Grapefruit League. 

Spring training is in full effect, with all Major League Baseball teams participating in exhibition games across Florida and Arizona. With that being said, it's time to build the ultimate starting nine. 

Bleacher Report's Adam Lefkoe was joined by National MLB Columnist Scott Miller, as he went position by position in naming the best starting lineup money could buy. 

Houston Astros outfielder George Springer made his anticipated big league debut on April 17 last year. Springer, Houston's first-round pick (11th overall) in 2011, was thrown into the fire immediately and struggled a bit from the start.

It seems only a matter of time before the Philadelphia Phillies trade Cole Hamels. As the ace starting pitcher took the mound for the first time this spring, the rumors continued to swirl. Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald tweeted about the most recent buzz surrounding Hamels.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Immediately, you recognize the infectious smile from a mile away. Pure Panda. So is the laughter and the joy.

And inside the Boston Red Sox clubhouse, nothing about Panda says San Francisco anymore.

Leaving the Giants?

This news rarely turns in the other direction. 

The Texas Rangers might not know for sure yet, as Yu Darvish discussed (via Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News), but the sprain in his ulnar collateral ligament is likely to lead to Tommy John surgery. He will be done for this season.

Officially, Alex Rodriguez is more than one week into his return. Unofficially, we have learned nothing.

OK, first the obligatory caveat: It's spring training—and the beginning of spring training at that. Drawing firm conclusions now would be like critiquing a movie 26 seconds into the first trailer. On the other hand, Major League Baseball is back!

You want to talk about it. We want to talk about it.

It's going to be a while before we really know for sure. But for now, one thing at least appears to be true: Matt Harvey is back.

The American League East, won by the Baltimore Orioles in 2014, has seen its fair share of parity over the last several years. The Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees and Orioles have all taken turns hoisting the AL East flag.