MLB

Yankees GM says if Jeter moves, it’ll be to center field

Brian Cashman said some comments he made at a Q&A this morning about Derek Jeter were taken out of context.

The Yankees general manager was quoted as saying Jeter could be moved to the outfield before the end of his new contract. But Cashman said he was addressing a hypothetical from WFAN’s Mike Francesa, the host of the breakfast where the Q&A took place.

“If you listen to Mike he talks a lot about Jeter moving from short to third and [Alex Rodriguez] going from third to DH,” Cashman said in a phone interview this afternoon. “I said that’s not something we’re focused on right now at all. He’s our shortstop and he’s going to do everything in his power to stay there. Mike said that he thought that was the way to go. I said I thought his skill set would take him to the outfield if he was to move off that position.”

Cashman said the Yankees have not talked about changing Jeter’s position. It was reported on Twitter that Cashman said at the breakfast he thought Jeter would be in the outfield before his four-year contract with the team was up after the 2014 season.

“We signed him to be our shortstop,” Cashman said. “It’s as simple as that. If adjustments have to be made we’ll deal with it when that day occurs, if it ever occurs.”

Cashman reportedly said he would be surprised if Jeter finished his career at shortstop, “but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible.”

According to ESPN.com, Cashman compared Jeter’s situation to Robin Yount’s. Yount moved from shortstop to outfield for the Brewers in 1985, when he was 29 years old. Jeter turns 37 in June.

Jeter, the Yankees starting shortstop since 1996, this offseason signed a three-year, $51 million contract with a player option for a fourth year. The pact came after contentious negotiations that left Jeter fuming with Cashman for public statements he made.

Despite winning the Gold Glove last season (his fifth), Jeter’s range at shortstop has been under criticism. He has deflected any talk of ever moving from the position, but his future has been a hot-button issue among fans and media, and the organization avoided addressing it even hypothetically until Cashman’s remarks.

According to The Associated Press, Jeter worked out Tuesday at the Yankees’ spring-training complex in Tampa, Fla., hitting in the batting cage and fielding grounders.

Speaking at the WFAN fan breakfast, Cashman reportedly also said the Red Sox were better than the Yankees right now, but his team has a better bullpen.

Cashman also reportedly said, “We’re one starter away from being a World Series contender,” but it would not be Joba Chamberlain and unlikely to be Andy Pettitte.

Of Chamberlain, Cashman said the right-hander hasn’t been the same since suffering a shoulder injury in Texas (in August 2008).

Of Pettitte, Cashman said the left-hander is not expected to play but not retired, and was unlikely to join the team midseason.

Cashman also reportedly said there would be an open competition for starting catcher now that Jorge Posada will be DH. Newcomer Russell Martin and prospect Jesus Montero are likely the leading candidates.