MLB

YANKS SIGN ENSBERG

Further deepening their pool of first-base options, the Yankees signed Morgan Ensberg to a minor league contract yesterday. The right-handed hitter could start or platoon, considering that he owns strong numbers versus lefties.

Ensberg, who’s batted .284 with 35 homers and a .406 on-base percentage in 560 career at-bats versus lefties, is one of more than a half-dozen players who might be in the first base derby. The Yankees also have righty-hitting Shelley Duncan and Jason Lane, switch-hitting Wilson Betemit and lefty-hitting Jason Giambi and Juan Miranda. Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui could also see time there.

“We are signing Morgan Ensberg to compete at first base as either a platoon or to win the job,” Brian Cashman said yesterday.

Added agent Joe Sambito, “Morgan’s very excited about it, about the opportunity that he has. He’s going to compete for the first base job.”

Ensberg, 32, has played one career game at first base and in it, he committed an error. He has played nearly his whole career at third. In 2005 with Houston, Ensberg hit .283 with 36 homers, but in 2006 he batted just .235 with 23 homers and last year with Houston and San Diego, he hit a combined .230 with 12 homers.

-Additional reporting by Joel Sherman