Yanks to retain Kroenke through Rule 5?

The Rule 5 Draft starts in an hour and can be followed live on MLB.com. This is where the player to be named later in the Brian Bruney trade comes in.

Early reports last night say the Nationals, who have the first pick in the draft, will take Zach Kroenke and offer him back to the Yankees.

Kroenke, a left-handed reliever for the Yankees Triple-A affiliate last year, posted a 7-1 record and 1.99 ERA.

Obviously, the Yankees would love to retain a guy like this after losing lefty Phil Coke in the Curtis Granderson trade.