MLB Trade Rumors 2014 Update: NY Yankees Have No Plans to Trade Brett Gardner; Yanks Sign Brian Roberts

New York Yankees President Randy Levine denied earlier reports that they are planning to trade Brett Gardner in order to make room for newly-signed Jacoby Ellsbury in the team's center field position.

In an interview with ESPN, Levine declined to talk about the rumored Gardner-Brandon Phillips swap with the Cincinnati Reds, saying that he is expecting the 30-year-old veteran to be in the Yankees' opening day roster in the 2014 MLB season.

Rumors about trading Gardner circulated when the Yankees signed Ellsbury to a seven-year deal worth $153 million earlier this month. The signing created a logjam in the Yankees' centerfield position, but Levine said that they are planning to utilize Gardner and Ellsbury together next season.

"We think he's going to be on the roster. One of the reasons the baseball people signed Jacoby Ellsbury is the two of them together present a tremendous dynamic one-two or nine-one, whatever Joe Girardi decides to write in at the top of the lineup," Levine said. "One will play left, one will play center, and it's a tremendous defensive situation. So no there's absolutely no intention to move Brett Gardner."

Levine also added that they are also preparing to have troubled veteran Alex Rodriguez in the Opening Day roster for the upcoming season despite the uncertainty surrounding the 38-year-old third baseman.

Rodriguez was handed a 211-game suspension due to the infamous Biogenesis issue, but the ban could be lifted or shortened depending on the decision of the arbitrator, which is expected to be released next month.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are on the verge of shoring up their roster further as reports have confirmed that the Yanks have agreed to a deal with free agent Brian Roberts.

According to ESPN New York, the 36-year-old Roberts will sign a one-year contract worth $2 million with incentives, officially ending his 13-year stay with the Baltimore Orioles.

The two-time All-Star holds a .349 career on-base percentage and has 278 stolen bases, but has been bothered by injuries in the past few seasons. Roberts has not played in more than 77 games since the 2009 MLB season.

The Yankees have been looking for a new second baseman after Robinson Cano signed a lucrative 10-year, $240 million contract with the Seattle Mariners.