Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
If 36-year-old Derek Jeter doesn’t last at shortstop for the length of his new four-year contract, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman thinks Jeter is best suited for a switch to center field.
“I like corner outfielders and corner infielders who have power, so for me, if he’s ever gonna move, it’s probably gonna be a Robin Yount situation. But we don’t have to deal with it at this point,” Cashman said Tuesday. “We’ll deal with it when we have to.”
This offseason, almost immediately after Jeter signed a three-year, $51 million deal with an option for a fourth year, speculation centered on whether the longtime Yankee could play shortstop for the life of the contract. Cashman said that he would “be surprised” if Jeter stays there for the duration, “but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible.”
“I know he’s working hard to put himself in that position,” Cashman told WFAN’s Mike Francesa at a breakfast appearance at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York.
“Jeter’s our shortstop, period,” Cashman added.
Yount moved from shortstop to center field in the mid-1980s, midway through a 20-year career with the Brewers. He had won an MVP in the infield and then won another one in the outfield on the way to a Hall of Fame career.
In his 16-year career, Jeter has won five Gold Gloves at shortstop, most recently last season. That leads Cashman to say “we’re not there” in thinking to move Jeter.
The Yankees have more immediate concerns heading into the coming season. Pitcher Andy Pettitte is “still not in,” Cashman said. The veteran left-hander is working out and hasn’t retired but hasn’t committed to returning to the Yankees. Cashman discounted the notion of Pettitte joining the team midseason.
Cashman said he has no plans to make right-handed power reliever Joba Chamberlain a starter despite Pettitte’s status and the fact the Yanks are scrambling to fill out the rotation.
On offense, the Yankees replaced reserve outfielder Marcus Thames with free agent Andruw Jones, who Cashman said is similar to Thames in offensive production but slightly better on defense.
Jones looks to be the fourth outfielder behind Brett Gardner in left, Curtis Granderson in center and Nick Swisher in right. There is no plan to put Jeter in that mix or to move him to third or any other position, Cashman said.
“It’s not something we have to deal with right now,” he said.
What they do have to deal with is an improved Red Sox team, which grabbed All-Star Carl Crawford from the Rays. Cashman admitted that Boston is the better team right now but said New York has a better bullpen.
Information from ESPNW.com’s Amanda Rykoff and ESPNNewYork.com’s Wallace Matthews was used in this report.
