Randy Winn’s time with the Yankees came to an end just two months into the season.
The veteran outfielder was designated for assignment by the Yankees yesterday, the first significant casualty of their 2010 season. The Yankees made the move to make room on the roster for Curtis Granderson, who came off the disabled list before last night’s 8-2 victory over the Indians.
The Yankees opted to keep rookie Kevin Russo over Winn, who they signed for $1.1 million in January.
“I’m not surprised. I didn’t play well. It’s what happened,” Winn said. “I played terrible.”
Winn never found his footing with the Yankees as a part-time player. Winn batted just .213 (13-for-61) with a homer, eight RBIs and a .300 on-base percentage. He also made a brutal play in left field last weekend during the Subway Series.
Russo can play left field, third base or second base, giving manager Joe Girardi some options. Russo pinch ran for Derek Jeter in the eighth inning last night and stayed in at third base.
“We went with the versatility,” Girardi said.
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Alex Rodriguez had the night off against the Indians. Both Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman said it was just to rest the third baseman and nothing more serious. Rodriguez went 4-for-20 (.200) in the last week and has not hit a home run since May 19.
“I haven’t felt real good [at the plate], but I’m sure I’m going to get better,” Rodriguez said.
He has just six home runs this season.
“Sometimes when you stink it up there’s no reason,” he said. “I’ve just been inconsistent.”
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Granderson, who went 1-for-3 with a run scored, came through last night’s return in good shape. He said his groin felt fine, and he faced several tests including several fly balls to center field and racing from first to third on a Mark Teixeira base hit.
Girardi said he plans on giving Granderson a long look in the spot against right-handed pitchers.
“We’re going to play him a lot,” Girardi said. “He’s ready to go. It might be a situation where one of the lefties out of the next three or four days we give him a day off. . . . But he’s going to play.”
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Jorge Posada (broken right foot) has been cleared to begin exercising, the first step on his way back to the lineup.
The boot is off his foot, and Posada could hit off a tee this weekend.
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Reliever Alfredo Aceves (strained lower back) had a second epidural shot yesterday in an attempt to relieve his pain and avoid season-ending surgery. “We’re going to go every route possible to avoid surgery,” Cashman said. . . . Yankees Triple-A pitcher Amauri Sanit was suspended for 50 games yesterday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. . . . Chad Moeller went 1-for-4 in his first start at catcher for the Bombers.