CLEVELAND — Joe Girardi didn’t rule out the possibility of Curtis Granderson returning to the Yankees in time for tonight’s game in The Bronx.
And with the team sending Brennan Boesch to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre yesterday, they’re already making room for him.
“That means he’s getting closer,” Girardi said of Granderson following the Yankees’ 7-0 win over the Indians to get a split of the doubleheader. “We had to get a pitcher on [the roster] somehow.
“With Curtis coming back, we thought it was best to get Boesch to go get some at-bats and be prepared to help us, because I think he’s going to help us.”
Right-handed pitcher Brett Marshall was recalled from SWB in time for yesterday’s second game. Granderson went 1-for-3 with a walk in a rehab start with SWB last night. Girardi made it sound as if the decision to return was Granderson’s.
“We’ll see,” Girardi said. “I’ll talk to [general manager] Brian Cashman. I’ve always said when [Granderson] feels he’s ready, then come on. We want him back in our lineup, so if he feels that he’s ready to go, he’s ready to go. Whenever that takes place, we’ll have open arms.”
Granderson has been playing all three outfield positions during his rehab and the team is leaning toward keeping Brett Gardner in center, where he has played well.
Still, Girardi said he would speak with Granderson about where he would go.
“I want to talk to him face-to-face about how he felt in different positions,” Girardi said. “The great thing about our outfielders is that all of them can play other positions.”
Boesch had an option remaining and like Granderson is a left-handed hitter, which led to the decision to send him down.
“Obviously, the role I was given isn’t a role that anyone would want,” said Boesch, who was picked up by the Yankees after the Tigers let him go during spring training. “My goal is to be an everyday player again.
“The first step in doing that is getting some at-bats and working hard down there.”
He wasn’t able to provide much production when he did get on the field.
“I stayed ready for situations,” Boesch said. “I really don’t think you can judge the sample size that I was here. I had a lot of interesting starts against tough lefties and pinch hits. … I prefer to go down at this point and work and play.”