WELCOME, NOW PLAY: Newly signed outfielder Brennan Boesch was placed right into the lineup yesterday, going 0-for-3 as a split squad of Yankees lost 7-0 to the Phillies at home in Tampa. (
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TAMPA — Brennan Boesch arrived at Yankees camp yesterday, and with the ink on his contract barely dry he immediately was put in the lineup.
The former Tigers outfielder likely isn’t the last veteran general manager Brian Cashman looks at before the season.
“I’m open,” Cashman said following the Yankees’ 7-0 split-squad loss to the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “Opening Day’s not till a ways down the line. I’m keeping my eyes open elsewhere. Our guys are competing for a spot, and there are other guys not even wearing this Yankee uniform right now that might be competing for a spot that we’re watching elsewhere.”
The 27-year-old Boesch was let go by the Tigers because of Detroit’s outfield depth and the fact he was owed $2.3 million. He signed a deal with the Yankees that will pay him $1.5 million if he stays with the team and $500,000 if he lands in the minors.
Boesch said his decision to sign with the Yankees was an easy one — and not just because they are in desperate need for outfield help.
“I wasn’t looking at depth charts or opportunities,” Boesch said before going 0-for-3. “When my agent [Scott Boras] told me they were interested, I told him to get it done and I’m here. … They were definitely the first team on my list.”
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Still, with projected left fielder Curtis Granderson sidelined for at least the first month of the regular season with a broken arm, Boesch likely will get a chance to make an impact.
“This is a game where timing can be everything and maybe we get lightning in a bottle,” Cashman said. “So I feel there’s nothing but upside. The only downside is wasting time and a small amount of money. … Nothing’s been promised to him at all.”
Boesch was slowed this spring by an oblique injury he said was a “freak thing” that has healed but was something he would have to keep an eye on.
If Boesch sticks around, it could allow manager Joe Girardi to move Juan Rivera to first base to fill in for Mark Teixeira (strained wrist tendon) and keep Kevin Youkilis at third.
Boesch is not lacking for motivation after his time with the Tigers ended before he expected it to.
His stock fell last year and he never played in the postseason for the Tigers during their run to the World Series. General manager Dave Dombrowski informed Boesch he wouldn’t be staying with the organization — though he could have been sent down to the minors.
“They did me a favor,” Boesch said.
Now he has an opportunity to play on a regular basis in The Bronx, and he professed his affection for Yankee Stadium.
“I love playing there,” said Boesch, who has one career homer in 32 plate appearances at the Stadium. “I’ve always loved playing against the Yankees and in New York. It’s definitely my favorite place to play.”
Phil Hughes is aware of the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder’s potential to add a power bat.
“He’s a big lefty,” Hughes said. “Hopefully he can replace some of the home runs we lost.”
In the meantime, Cashman made it clear he’s not done looking for help for an injury-depleted lineup.
“Toward the end of camp, we’ll evaluate what we have and evaluate what’s available outside of our camp,” Cashman said.
“[Longtime scout and former GM] Gene Michael taught me to sift through the nuggets and separate the gold from the rest of the debris. We’re trying to get as much sifting as we can get and hopefully run into some gold.”