CLEVELAND — Carlos Beltran’s miserable first year as a Yankee slid further downhill Monday when the struggling designated hitter couldn’t play because of a problem behind his right knee.
“He had a little swelling in the back of his knee [Monday] so we gave him a day off,’’ Joe Girardi said before the Yankees’ 5-3 win over the Indians at Progressive Field. “He is going to see [the Indians’] doctor to see what they think. He said he felt it the last at-bat [Sunday]. We will give him a day off and see what they say.’’
Beltran, who said the problem was the hamstring tendon in the back of the knee and the result of catching a cleat in the dirt Sunday in his final at-bat against the Twins, was examined by the Indians’ doctor who prescribed anti-inflammatory medicine.
“I don’t know,’’ Beltran said when asked if he would play Tuesday night. “I took a lot of treatment and the plan is to come here and see if I make the lineup.’’
For Beltran it’s the latest downer during the first year of a three-year, $45 million contract.
On April 17 at Tampa Bay he ran into a Tropicana Field wall in foul territory chasing a ball and suffered soreness in his left shoulder and right wrist. Sixteen games into the season he was batting .298 when he hit the wall. Beltran missed one game but went from .298 to .234 by May 12. That’s when he removed himself from a game against the Mets at Yankee Stadium due to a bone spur that barked while taking swings in the cage between innings. The next day Beltran went on the DL.
He was activated on June 5 strictly as a DH because his elbow didn’t allow him to throw. His average began to plummet and a program designed to strengthen his throwing arm was halted in late June when he said his right forearm felt tight.
Beltran’s problems have been here a while. On May 6 he was batting .248. When he returned from the DL, his average was down to .229. Since then it dipped to the .216 it was going into Monday night’s action.
In the four games against the Twins in Minnesota, Beltran went 2-for-15.
Because Brandon McCarthy wasn’t on the Yankees’ active roster Monday night, he wasn’t allowed to be in the clubhouse before the game.
Tuesday, when Monday night’s starter Shane Greene is returned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the newest member of the Yankees’ rotation will be on hand because he is starting Wednesday.
“I had a chance to talk to him on the phone and he is ready to go and excited,’’ Girardi said of the right-hander who was acquired from the Diamondbacks Sunday for Vidal Nuno. The Diamondbacks gave the Yankees $2.1 million to cover what’s left of McCarthy’s $9 million salary.
Despite a 3-10 record for the dismal Diamondbacks, Girardi is encouraged McCarthy, who turned 31 Monday, can help a rotation that has hurt the bullpen with too many short outings.
“This is an experienced starter who can give us length and that is kind of one of the things we fought,’’ Girardi said. “Some of our starters weren’t getting a lot of length. He is a guy with a power sinker who gets a lot of ground ball outs and it’s important for us.’’
Scouts from the Padres, White Sox, Twins and Reds were at Progressive Field Monday night.
Padres could make third baseman Chase Headley available and the Yankees would have to listen even if Headley is having an off year. The Padres might move former Yankee Ian Kennedy and the Yankees would be interested. The White Sox have let it known they will listen on a lot of players and are looking for catching, of which the Yankees have a surplus. The Twins could move right-handed hitting outfielder Josh Willingham, who would add some much-needed power to an anemic outfield.
Alfonso Soriano is home in Tampa waiting to find out where he will land after being designated for assignment Sunday. Soriano, who is expected to continue playing, has to be traded or released by midnight July 16. Because he has a full no-trade clause, he can turn down any deal.
Derek Jeter remembers hitting his first big league homer at what was Jacobs Field in 1996 and is now Progressive Field.
“I was happy when I did that because I think there were a lot of questions when I came into spring training that particular year. I struggled in spring training and Tony Fernandez broke his arm,’’ Jeter recalled. “I think it was important to get off to a good start, no just necessarily just one particular game and to answer some doubts.’’
Asked about the 2007 playoff game when midges invaded the park, Jeter said, “That was by far one of the bizarre. It wasn’t fun. What made it difficult — what do you call those things? They were all over the place. You couldn’t shake them. That’s what made it difficult.’’
Because he hasn’t had a setback throwing on flat ground the Yankees are hopeful Michael Pineda can begin throwing off a mound Monday.