Brian Cashman wants Yankees fans to temper their expectations when it comes to Eduardo Nunez.
The Yankees general manager, speaking on yesterday’s Post-Cast with Mike Vaccaro and Mark Hale, said he believes Nunez projects well at shortstop, but doesn’t think he could be an everyday player at third base, left field or center field because of his limitations offensively. Cashman cited Nunez’s .678 minor league on-base plus slugging percentage as an indicator.
“That’s not a great offensive player,” Cashman said.
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The GM said there are misconceptions that “come and go with our fan base regarding certain players” and he includes the 25-year-old Nunez in that category.
“There’s a lot of opinions on him and what he could or couldn’t do,” Cashman said. “It’s interesting to me. I’ve had a lot of people say, you’ve got to get 500 at bats for this guy, find a position for him as if he’s some sort of offensive juggernaut.”
The Yankees are looking for an everyday left fielder short-term with Curtis Granderson out until mid-May with a fractured forearm. Nunez is unlikely to enter that competition, though.
Cashman said the Yankees “have no problem” grooming him as a potential shortstop of the future after Derek Jeter retires. He’s athletically able to effectively play different positions defensively, the GM said, but would not be enough of a threat offensively to warrant that. Nunez hit .292 with one home run and 11 RBIs in 89 at bats last season.
“That’s not something that any organization is going to try and make room for in left field or center field or third base,” Cashman said. “That’s something that does not profile.”