MLB

Yankees curiously delay decision on last roster spot

TAMPA — The final days of spring training are fertile grounds for bizarre roster scenarios and the Yankees have one blooming in their clubhouse.

After informing Dean Anna he was selected to be a backup infielder, the Yankees had one more infield spot to fill and it was between Eduardo Nunez and Yangervis Solarte.

The spot is open because Brendan Ryan will open the season on the disabled list with a neck issue.

Yet, Nunez and Solarte were summoned to Joe Girardi’s office following Friday night’s 3-0 win over the Marlins at GMS Field and were told the same thing: Sit tight.

“They said, ‘Come to the field like a regular day, don’t pack anything,’ ” Nunez said. “It was weird. I don’t know. This is the first time in the situation where it’s the last day. I didn’t say nothing.’’

General manager Brian Cashman and third base coach Rob Thomson were in Girardi’s office and according to Nunez, Cashman delivered the news.

It’s possible the Yankees are trying to deal Solarte, Nunez or maybe Ichiro Suzuki, but Cashman was mum on the subject. Nunez has an option and Solarte, who is in camp on a minor league deal, can become a free agent if he doesn’t make the club.

According to MLB rules, the Yankees have to have their 25-man roster set by 3 p.m. Sunday.


Hiroki Kuroda (three innings) and Masahiro Tanaka (six innings) combined to blank the Marlins, 3-0, Friday night and fanned 14. Kuroda whiffed four and Tanaka struck out 10. A lot of Tanaka’s Ks came on a split-fingered fastball that was clocked at 87 mph.


Brooklyn product Dellin Betances and Vidal Nuno, an independent league alumni, were informed they had made the team as the final two relievers.

“It’s an honor, I grew up in the organization and there have been a lot of up and downs,’’ said Betances, the Grand Street Campus High School alum who was taken in the eighth round of the 2006 draft. “Making the team out of spring training is a big deal for anybody.’’

Saddled with control problems throughout his career, the 26-year-old right-hander, who is 6-foot-8 and weighs 260 pounds, dominated in 10 spring training games. In 12 ¹/₃ innings, he allowed five hits, fanned 11 and walked four.

The 26-year-old Nuno, who pitched in the Frontier League, pitched in four games (two starts) and posted a 3.38 ERA. He worked five games for the Yankees last year when he made three starts.


A recent video session with hitting coach Kevin Long revealed a flaw in Mark Teixeira’s swing from the left side.

“I was protecting my swing like I was doing last year when I was hurt,’’ Teixeira said before Friday night’s win. “It was a bad habit I got into last year that I needed to take my full swing left-handed.’’

Thursday in Bradenton, Fla., against the Pirates, Teixeira didn’t attempt to protect his left-handed cut.

“[Thursday] was the first game that I took the full swing, really going after it and didn’t worry about it,’’ Teixeira said. “I didn’t think about it and I am hoping it continues.’’

Teixeira went 0-for-2 Friday night and is hitting .086 (3-for-35) with no home runs and four RBIs. Considering his annual goal is to hit 30 homers and drive in 100 runs and Opening Day is Tuesday in Houston, Teixeira probably needs to start driving balls.

“I have been hitting nice line drives, but those line drives I have to get under and hit home runs,’’ Teixeira said. “That will come and the wrist is getting stronger. No one can predict what the season is going to give you, but what I do know is that I am healthy.

Long said watching Teixeira swing Thursday was a relief.

“He wasn’t able to drive the ball and he was cutting his swing off,’’ Long said of Teixeira’s swing before Thursday. “I can’t tell you how positive the Bradenton game was.’’


The Yankees didn’t have a hit against the Marlins until Kelly Johnson doubled in the eighth inning.


The Yankees signed Alfredo Aceves to a minor league deal, and he will be used as a starter for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Aceves pitched for the Yankees from 2008 to 2010.


The MLB and the Players’ Association increasing the penalties for failed drug tests sits well with Girardi.

“I am all for cleaning up the game. Whatever it takes I am all for it,’’ he said. “It’s important to me as a guy who played, a guy who manages and as a father. The edge comes through hard work. Whatever they do to keep people from taking PEDs I am all for it.’’