Results tagged ‘ Eric Chavez ’
Stiff neck moves A-Rod to DH
NEW YORK – Alex Rodriguez experienced a stiff neck during batting practice on Monday at Yankee Stadium and was moved to designated hitter in the Yankees’ lineup.
Rodriguez had been slated to play third base, batting third, as the Yankees open a three-game series with the Blue Jays. He remained in the same lineup spot, but Eric Chavez – batting eighth – moved from DH to third base.
Rodriguez was 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in the Yankees’ 10-8 loss to the Angels on Sunday, popping out with the bases loaded against Kevin Jepsen for the final out. He has 11 hits in his last 30 at-bats but is 4-for-13 on the homestand.
Nunez sent to Minors; Chavez activated
The Yankees have optioned infielder-outfielder Eduardo Nunez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, making room for Eric Chavez on the club’s active roster. Manager Joe Girardi said the Yankees want Nunez to abandon the utilityman experiment and get back to playing mostly shortstop, with some second base mixed in.
“We talked about it and said, maybe we’re asking this kid to do too much at this time in his career,” Girardi said. “… Our thought is, this kid is going to be an everyday shortstop at some point.”
The move was made after Nunez committed two errors – one fielding, one throwing – on Thursday against the Rays. He was removed in the sixth inning for defense, replaced by Jayson Nix. Girardi said Nix will be the new backup shortstop and second baseman while Chavez can back up at first and third bases.
Eric Chavez reports to camp
Eric Chavez isn’t officially on the Yankees’ roster, but he’s doing a pretty good impersonation of someone who is. Chavez stopped by Steinbrenner Field this morning and was spotted wearing a Yankees t-shirt, dropping off a few things at a locker that has his name on it.
It’s pretty safe to say that he’s on the team. Chavez grinned and said, “Officially, I’m nothing.”
Chavez said that it took a while to hammer out his one-year, $900,000 deal with the Yankees, but he’s happy that it was completed. Chavez said he might have contemplated retirement if the Yankees weren’t interested, but they were, along with a few unnamed teams. Chavez said he was only willing to seriously consider the Yankees.
“The beginning of the offseason for me was very relaxed, but then over the last three weeks, it took a long time,” Chavez said. “I’m happy the way things worked out. The team looks fantastic. It looks like we’re in good position to win a lot of ballgames.”
The day at camp
It looks like a little bit of a light day on the pitching front. Here are the bullpen assignments:
- Group 1: Juan Cedeno (Gustavo Molina), Manny Delcarmen (Francisco Cervelli), Mike O’Connor (Jose Gil), Clay Rapada (Russell Martin).
- Group 2: Adam Miller (Austin Romine), Ryan Pope (Gary Sanchez), Kevin Whelan (Kyle Higashioka).
- Throwing program: Joba Chamberlain, Matt Daley, Pedro Feliciano, Brad Meyers, Mariano Rivera.
And the hitting groups:
- Group 1: David Adams, Andruw Jones, Justin Maxwell.
- Group 2: Cervelli, Martin, Molina, Romine.
- Group 3: Gil, Higashioka, Murphy, Sanchez.
Chavez re-signs with Yankees
Eric Chavez has reached agreement on a one-year big league contract with the Yankees, MLB.com has confirmed. The signing has not been officially announced because Chavez must first pass a physical.
Chavez’s signing was first reported by CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. Chavez, 34, batted .263 with two homers and 26 RBIs in 58 games for the Yankees last season. He figures to see action mostly as a backup for Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira at third and first bases, respectively.
With this signing, the Yankees are likely done adding players before position players report to camp on Friday. New York’s 40-man roster is full, so there will be another paperwork move in the works to clear a spot. Since they could just put Joba Chamberlain or Pedro Feliciano on the 60-day disabled list, it’s not really anything to worry about.
Whoops: Girardi mentions Chavez on his roster
This was a funny moment today in camp. Not that it should be a big surprise to anyone, but Joe Girardi had to backpedal a little bit this afternoon after accidentally mentioning Eric Chavez as one of his backup first base options.
“We don’t have him, but there has been talk about him,” Girardi said, smiling, as someone pointed out the goof. “That’s not official.”
Indeed, the Yankees have no agreement yet with Chavez, but it seems extremely likely they’ll hammer one out before position players hit camp on Friday.
“I’d like to have him back,” Girardi said. “I thought he was productive for us and he gives me flexibility.”
Raul Ibanez’s signing is now official, so the Yankees’ roster is at 40 players.
Chavez interested in Yankees return
Veteran infielder Eric Chavez has decided to play in 2012 and remains interested in a return engagement with the Yankees, among other clubs that have drawn his attention.
The Yankees enjoyed having Chavez as a reserve corner infielder, backing up both Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira in 2011.
Pregame notes: Mariano reports improvement
Mariano Rivera played catch in the outfield at Cleveland’s Progressive Field today and said that his sore right triceps feels better, but he still feels something in there. He’ll give manager Joe Girardi a full report after the session, but told reporters that it’d take an emergency for him to pitch tonight.
Earlier today, Rivera said the toughest person to convince is usually Gene Monahan, who’ll nod when a player says he feels OK and then tell the manager to give him another day off. You’ve seen it before, but Rivera might get a little extra leeway with Girardi because of who he is and what he’s been through.
“Basically, you know your body,” Rivera said. “Those things are going to happen. You always have some aching feelings and soreness. I’m not concerned because I haven’t done nothing wrong. I expect that it’s something that’s going to calm and go away, the same way it came.”
Other pre-game tidbits:
- Derek Jeter is in the lineup, batting leadoff and playing shortstop. Girardi said he checked with Jeter last night and today to make sure he’d be ready to go. They wouldn’t commit to a start on Wednesday here in Cleveland.
- Luis Ayala is available tonight. Cory Wade has pitched in three of four, so he’s out. Eduardo Nunez is available off the bench, Girardi said.
- Just a day off for Russell Martin after catching four straight, and a half-day for Mark Teixeira, who’s DHing while the Yanks play this stretch of 13 in a row. Girardi said that it’s to the point now where he doesn’t think twice about having Jorge Posada play first base.
- They’re expecting 100 pitches out of Phil Hughes tomorrow.
- Another setback for Eric Chavez, who felt something in his abdominal and has been sent back to New York for tests. Meanwhile, Rafael Soriano is set to throw a bullpen in Tampa tomorrow. Best case for Soriano is the first game after the All-Star break, but a little cushion room is more likely.
Grapefruit League Game 30: Yankees at Twins
Here is the lineup as the Yankees take their last bus trip of the spring, a 2 1/2 hour trek to Fort Myers, Fla., and they’ll see a familiar face on the other side of the diamond… remember, the Yankees actually had some interest in signing Carl Pavano (again!) as a free agent this winter…
March 27, 2011, 1:05 p.m. ET – Lee County Sports Complex – Fort Myers, Fla.
TV: None / Radio: None
YANKEES (12-14-3)
Eduardo Nunez SS, Robinson Cano 2B, Mark Teixeira 1B, Alex Rodriguez DH, Eric Chavez 3B, Andruw Jones RF, Ramiro Pena LF, Jesus Montero C, Austin Krum CF
Pitching: Buddy Carlyle RHP (0-0, 18.00 ERA this spring)
TWINS (17-11)
Aaron Hicks CF, Matt Tolbert 2B, Michael Cuddyer RF, Justin Morneau 1B, Jim Thome DH, Delmon Young LF, Danny Valencia 3B, Drew Butera C, Alexi Casilla SS
Pitching: Carl Pavano RHP (1-1, 0.95 ERA this spring)
- Joe Girardi told reporters today in Fort Myers that it is unlikely Pedro Feliciano (left triceps soreness) will be able to avoid the disabled list. Feliciano was supposed to try throwing today but the session had to be cancelled, and Girardi said it is difficult to envision a situation where Feliciano is ready for Opening Day. Girardi named lefty Steve Garrison, 24, as a potential replacement to begin the season.
- Romulo Sanchez was listed on the travel roster for today’s game but did not make the trip. It’s possible that the Yankees could have a trade in the works. Sanchez is out of Minor League options.
- Right-handed pitcher Lance Pendleton has been tendered back to the Yankees by the Astros. Pendleton will be assigned to minor league camp.
- Chris Dickerson (cramping) and Curtis Granderson (oblique strain) are taking BP this afternoon in Tampa, though Girardi said it is too early to know anything about their conditions.
- Girardi on Eric Chavez’s spring: “You saw the bat speed. Right when he got to camp, you saw the bat speed in Chavez. If he’s healthy, he can help us. He’s not really going to forget how to hit. It’s just if you’re physically capable of hitting. And he looked great.”
Chavez “off the charts,” Girardi says
Eric Chavez seems to have a spot locked up with the Yankees as a reserve corner infielder, planning to see some playing time behind Alex Rodriguez at third base and Mark Teixeira at first base.
Tonight was easily his best performance of the spring. Chavez slugged a solo homer in the second inning off Astros starter Nelson Figueroa, then singled in the fourth before doubling and scoring a run in the fifth. He’s hitting .421 this spring.
“He looks pretty good, doesn’t he?” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “I was commenting today about his BP. It was like off the charts today, and it just went right into the game.”
The only blemish was a pop-up he got turned around on down by the third-base photo box, but it dropped for no play. With Chavez, defense has never been the concern, it’s health – and he seems to have come back strong from his recent minor right calf scare. It looks like he’ll be lockering next to old A’s teammate Nick Swisher in New York.
Bryan Hoch
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