Brian Roberts has been asked about replacing Robinson Cano. David Robertson is smothered every day about taking over for Mariano Rivera.
Maybe it’s time to take a look at who played third base for the final two months last season and how much this year’s model has helped the Yankees.
Had Alex Rodriguez not been suspended for the 2014 season do you think the Yankees would be better off with him at third across the first six weeks of the season than Yangervis Solarte?
Yes, Solarte is due to come back to earth at some point. And, sure, Rodriguez is a better power threat.
Still, after the Yankees snapped a four-game losing streak and six in a row to the Mets with a 4-0 Subway Series victory at Citi Field, Solarte is batting .336 (40-for-119) with four homers and a team-leading 23 RBIs.
Solarte, who went 1-for-3 with a homer, has hit in nine straight games, going 15-for-31 (.484) in that stretch.
“I know my role here before spring training. Utility guy, I still think the same, even though I keep playing. As long as I stay here, I’m OK,’’ said Solarte, a rookie, who spent eight years in the minors.
Solarte has caught the attention of his teammates.
“It’s become a running joke in our dugout, best player I’ve ever seen, at this point,’’ said Brian Roberts, who had two triples and an RBI. “It’s a great story, fun to watch. To do what he is doing is tough to do. It’s tough to hit .350 in this league for two months.’’
A non-roster invite to spring training Solarte appeared to be Triple-A insurance. Brendan Ryan had a two-year deal for $5 million and the Yankees still believed Eduardo Nunez had value at third base.
Ryan hurt his neck, missed most of the exhibition schedule and opened the season on the DL. Solarte clearly beat out Nunez and started the season as a reserve infielder with Dean Anna.
When Mark Teixeira went on the DL in April, Kelly Johnson moved from third to first and Solarte was inserted at third. Across 39 games the argument can be made that Solarte is the Yankees’ best player.
“He keeps thrilling us,’’ Girardi said of the 26-yeard-old Solarte’s start to the season than included a nifty defensive play Wednesday night. “His at-bats continue to be good. He continues to impress us.”