The Yankees remain the only team not to have signed a Major League free agent this winter, with general manager Brian Cashman explaining that the trade market proved more attractive to address their needs.
While the Yankees have added talent by importing infielder Starlin Castro, left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman and outfielder Aaron Hicks in swaps, this would mark the first time since the advent of free agency in the 1970s that the Yankees have punted on a class.
Yet it is possible that they could use a Minor League free agent to round out their final roster spots.
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Among the 25 non-roster invitees announced last week were 15 players who signed Minor League deals, some of whom will take a crack at the Yankees' five open roster spots: three in the bullpen, a second catcher and the final bench spot.
That includes infielder Pete Kozma, who has played 275 games with the Cardinals over the last five seasons and offers versatility, having appeared at five positions last year: shortstop, second base, third base, first base and left field.
Kozma, 27, hit just .152 with two RBIs in 99 at-bats last season and is a career .222 hitter. He could fill in the role vacated by another former Cardinal, Brendan Ryan, who was dealt to the Cubs in the Castro trade and later landed with the Nationals.

Manager Joe Girardi and his staff will look at Donovan Solano, who has primarily played second base over the last four seasons with the Marlins but has also appeared at third base, shortstop and left field. Solano, 28, is a career .257 hitter in 361 big league games and batted .189 with seven RBIs in 90 at-bats for Miami last year.
Gary Sanchez is considered the favorite to back up catcher Brian McCann, but the Yankees added a depth option by signing switch-hitter Carlos Corporan. The 32-year-old is a defensive-minded choice, having batted .218 in 232 games over parts of six seasons with the Brewers (2009), Astros (2011-14) and Rangers (2015).
Cashman has indicated that the Dec. 8 acquisition of Castro provides the opportunity to use the Yankees' final roster spot as a revolving door of sorts, as Castro's ability at second base, shortstop and third base could offset the relative inflexibility of Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran.
"If I had to carry 13 pitchers, I might be able to actually do that if I needed to," Cashman said. "We have a lot more flexibility, despite some of the players we have in A-Rod and Beltran that aren't flexible."
On the middle relief front, right-hander Vinnie Pestano could earn consideration. Pestano, 30, has made 223 relief appearances over six seasons with the Indians (2010-14) and Angels (2014-15), going 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in 19 appearances for the Angels last year.

Despite Pestano's 2015 struggles, he owns a career 2.98 ERA and his career .169 (68-for-402) opponents' batting average vs. right-handed batters is the fifth-lowest among active pitchers, behind only Chapman, Jose Fernandez, Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel.
Anthony Swarzak also boasts a big league resume, having appeared in 191 games (32 starts) over six seasons with the Twins (2009, '11-14) and Indians (2015), going 16-24 with a 4.45 ERA. The 30-year-old right-hander had a 3.38 ERA in 10 appearances for Cleveland last year.
The other players signed to Minor League deals are left-hander Richard Bleier, right-hander Tyler Cloyd, catcher Francisco Diaz, infielder Jonathan Diaz, catcher Kyle Higashioka, right-hander Diego Moreno, outfielder Cesar Puello, catcher Eddy Rodriguez, infielder Deibinson Romero and catcher Sebastian Valle.
Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 18, with the Yankees' first full-squad workout slated for Feb. 25.