Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday that Joba Chamberlain "is a bullpen guy, for the 200th time."

It wouldn't hurt to at least stretch him out during spring training, but the Yankees are adamantly opposed to the idea. Perhaps there's something we just don't know here. We fully expect the Yankees to bring in some arms for their rotation, but as of now, the final two spots in the rotation would likely go to Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre.

Yankees and RHP Joba Chamberlain avoided arbitration Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.4 million contract.

Joba was eligible for arbitration for the first time. He made just $487,975 in 2010 and is probably happy with the significant raise in pay, but it was only a couple of years ago that he looked like one of the most promising prospects in baseball. This should have been a far more glorious day for Chamberlain. Instead, he's now a slightly above average middle reliever.

SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees will consider trading Joba Chamberlain, but only in a package for a viable starter.

Chamberlain, 25, is coming off a solid season in his first full year as a member of the bullpen, as he posted a 4.40 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 9.7 K/9 rate over 71 2/3 innings. The Yankees no doubt would be willing to deal him, but they'd be selling low on the once-highly-touted starter prospect, so there's no reason to make a trade unless they receive a something substantial in return.

Asked Monday about Joba Chamberlain's future with the Yankees, manager Joe Girardi said the righty will remain a "bullpen guy."

Sounds about right. Chamberlain, once a highly-touted rotation prospect, is now a 25-year-old setup man. He worked exclusively out of the bullpen this past year, posting a 1.30 WHIP and fanning over a batter per inning, and he will remain in that seventh or eighth-inning role for 2011.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post confirmed Tuesday that Joba Chamberlain has been stripped of his eighth-inning setup gig.

And rightly so. Chamberlain has posted a 5.95 ERA, a 1.61 WHIP and has allowed 51 hits over 42 1/3 innings this season in the bullpen. Taking him out of high-pressure situations might help. The Yankees, meanwhile, are on the hunt to acquire a solid reliever before Saturday's trade deadline.

After coming in with a 1-0 lead, Joba Chamberlain gave up four runs in the eighth to take a loss Saturday against the Mariners.

Unfortunately, when Joba has been bad this year, he's been really bad, giving up at least three earned runs on five occasions. He has two saves and 18 holds versus only three blown saves, so it's not as though the Yankees need to take him out of the eighth-inning role. His 5.79 ERA is a big disappointment, though.

Joba Chamberlain gave up four runs over one-third of an inning in a loss to the Indians on Saturday afternoon.

It wasn't pretty. Including four hits and a walk, Chamberlain allowed each of the first face batters he faced to reach base safely. Though it doesn't show up on his line, he also allowed two inherited runners to score. Chamberlain has been pounded for 10 runs over his last five appearances and now has a 5.82 ERA on the year. He just can't be trusted in crucial spots right now.

Joba Chamberlain earned his second consecutive save, striking out two in a scoreless ninth Tuesday against the Orioles.

Mariano Rivera (side stiffness) threw a bullpen session earlier in the day, but Yankees manager Joe Girardi stated a preference to give him another night off and did just that. With a cushy 4-1 lead against the lowly Orioles, allowing Chamberlain the chance for a low-pressure save opportunity, while resting your legendary stopper for another day, was the right thing to do.

According to Yankees manager Joe Girardi, the team's eighth-inning role is still up for grabs.

A shot across Joba Chamberlain's bow? "Right now, our eighth inning is somewhat similar to what it was last year at this time," Girardi said. "No one has really claimed that spot. That's something that will work its way out -- the sooner, the better for us. You'd like to establish that role." Righties David Robertson and Chan Ho Park and left-hander Damaso Marte are additional high-leverage options for New York.