Followers of the off-season Yankees are left thinking about a single bench position. Let's take a look at the roster. They will carry 12 pitchers.
These are the nine position players (I note lefty, righty, and switch in parentheses): C Posada (S); 1B Teixeira (S); 2B Cano (L); SS Jeter (R); 3B Rodriguez (R); LF Gardner (L); CF Granderson (L); RF Swisher (S); and DH Johnson (L).
For all intents and purposes, Francisco Cervelli and Jamie Hoffman have made the team: C Cervelli (R); OF Hoffman (R).
Cervelli is the low-budget, all-around catching sub for Jorge Posada at the moment, and AJ Burnett will work with him. The Yankees have traded Brian Bruney for Jamie Hoffman, so we must assume that GM Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi are on board to give this right-handed corner outfielder every chance to stay on the roster. The Yankees must return Hoffman to the Dodgers if he does not make the team. They cannot send him down to AAA Scranton under the Rule 5 Draft.
That leaves only two spots open. So let’s first look at the scenarios where Yankees starters don’t play.
1. Pinch hitting for Cervelli when he starts. That will be Posada. If Posada is unavailable, role should be filled by left-handed bat.
2. Pinch hitting for Gardner—Requires a right-handed bat with good OBP
3. Pinch hitting for Granderson—Requires a right-handed bat with good OBP
4. Catching for Cervelli if Posada cannot go—rely on shuttle from Scranton?
5. Backup for Posada when he enters games that Cervelli starts—Emergency Catcher—Punt.
6. Playing 3B, SS, 2B when starters get a day off—Requires reliable utility man.
7. Occasional substitute for Teixeira—Nick Johnson
8. Playing OF in place of Swisher, Gardner, or Granderson—That’s Hoffman
9. Pinch Runner for Posada or Johnson—That's the middle infielder Utility man
Obviously this list cannot be filled by two players. One of the players must be the generic good-glove, occasional-hit middle infielder. The Yankees have four candidates from their own low-budget farm team resources. We will see Reegie Corona, Kevin Russo, Eduardo Nunez, and Ramiro Pena in Tampa during spring training.
Any one of these four players could go north with the team, and all of them can pinch run. I like Kevin Russo. He is a pretty good middle infielder who can steal bases and is the best hitter of the bunch. Ramiro Pena earned a lot of fans playing this role last year, as well. Russo and Pena can also steal a base. (Remember, Brett Gardner is no longer available for this role.)
It seems to me that the most important remaining role on the Yankees remains a right-handed pinch hitter who can get on base and replace Gardner and perhaps Granderson in key at bats when a situational lefty is brought in. My vote is Fernando Tatis. Tatis is a natural third baseman.
Since 2006, the Orioles and the Mets have converted him to an infield/outfield utility man. Tatis' line on the 2008 Mets was .297 BA/.369 OBP/.484 SLG/.853 OPS. In 2009, the line was .282/.339/.438/.777. Somewhat off, but not bad for a role player. His fielding numbers are good enough for a player who did not have the luxury of focusing on any single position. I think he has the maturity for the role of an off-the-bench player as well.
Last year, Tatis had a .822 OPS against left-handed pitching, which is the reason to sign him. He can pinch hit for Granderson or Gardner in crucial spots against LOOGYs and finish the game in the outfield.
I accept Cashman's comments that he is comfortable giving the left field job to Gardner. The Yankees are looking for a role player now. The best out there is Fernando Tatis.
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