The Yankees are trimming down their roster as they prepare to break camp later today, and have released OF/IB Juan Rivera, according to a source – tweets Ken Rosenthal.
This unofficially makes Lyle Overbay the team’s first baseman while Mark Teixeira is out recovering from a wrist injury. Overbay was signed earlier this week after being released from the Red Sox. This will also make Ben Francisco the fourth outfielder, according to beat writer Bryan Hoch.
The Yankees had until the end of today to put Rivera,34, on the 40-man roster, but instead cut him loose. He started his career with the Yankees back in 2001. He’s spent time with the Expos, Angels, Blue Jays and Dodgers before signing a minor league deal to wear the pinstripes again. This spring, he went 18-for-59 (.305) with no homers and 5 RBIs. With little power numbers out of the 1B position, the Yankees chose to go with defensive guy in Overbay. Primarily an OF, the Yankees tried Rivera over at first after Teixeira was injured. Although not entirely inept, Rivera was unable to scoop a few balls out of the dirt from Eduardo Nunez; Overbay has a career .995 fld pct.
Outfielder Brennan Boesch, who was picked up after he was released by Detroit, has also made the club, according to Joel Sherman. It is possible that Francisco, a righty, and Boesch a lefty, platoon in the outfield. In other news, Ronnier Mustelier will not make the team, as he has been sidelined with a bone bruise in his knee.
So all signs r all 4 late pickups — Boesch, Francisco, Overbay, Wells — will make #Yankees
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 28, 2013
