As the stalemate between the Major League owners and the MLB Players Association continues, so does the pursuit of a coveted 40-man big league roster spot for over 3000 minor league baseball players. So, the New York Yankees Tampa facility is still buzzing this spring, except for about one third of their players. They also happen to represent the highest paid portion of the group. Nonetheless, there is some hard work being put in by players in pursuit of 'The Pinstripes.'

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This lockout situation also gives the Yankees brass time to examine these potential players much more carefully than they can during a 'normal' camp. Maybe one of these rough rocks and be polished into a diamond. Each spring training comes with stories of players that came out of nowhere to land in the big leagues. Could one of those players be in Tampa right now? Absolutely and Brian Cashman with his personnel team know it.

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Dan Martin examined some of the minor leaguers on nypost.com PLUS. For example, "Hayden Wesneski was drafted by the Yankees in 2019, had his first professional spring training cut short by the pandemic in 2020 and was forced to delay his spring training last season when the league split up reporting dates for major and minor leaguers in an effort to avoid overcrowding amid ongoing COVID concerns." Wesneski told Martin, “It’s nuts. I still haven’t had my first real spring training.”

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However, it's not just minor leaguers fighting for one of those spots. There are plenty of ex-big leaguers fighting for one more shot. Matt Bowman is a 29-year-old right-handed reliever, who spent four seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds from 2016-2019. Bowman had Tommy John surgery in September 2020 and is working to get back on a Major League roster. He signed a two-year minor league deal with the Yankees.

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Nypost.com asked, "if it was awkward to be training at the facility during a lockout after being a member of the MLBPA previously, Bowman said, “No, since I’m not technically part of the union. I hope to rejoin this year … If we were striking, maybe I’d look at it a little differently. A lockout feels different.” Could Bowman be that surprise roster piece that comes out of the 2022 Spring Training? Maybe, but we have to wait a little longer for the answer than in normal years.

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Key Buffalo Bills Player Gets New Digs with Heart Shaped Pond Near Stadium for Under $1 Mil

This home is perfect for a Buffalo Bills player because not only it is beautiful, but it is only 10 mins from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park where the Bills play. It has 4,000 square feet of living space and sits on nearly 6 acres. It has a quiet yard along with a saltwater gunite pool with a hot tub. The is a front porch that overlooks a custom heart-shaped pond. There are fireplaces in nearly every room. Check out the gorgeous master suite with a spa bathroom, heated floor, and jacuzzi tub. There is a custom basement with a recreation room. The two-story three-car garage has a large finished room with a fireplace, bathroom, and kitchenette. Dawson Knox, the Tight End for the Buffalo Bills purchased this home for $995,000 just after Christmas of 2021.

Gallery Credit: WNYREIS

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