Yankees consider swapping outfielders
Yankees outfielders Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner could be switching positions.
Granderson worked out in left field Thursday and the speedy Gardner switched to center.
“I think it has a chance to help us a little bit, but I’m not really sure,” manager Joe Girardi said. “That’s why I’ve said from the beginning that I’m going to toy with it. I’m not saying today that this is what it’s going to be opening day.”
Girardi plans to play the pair together in upcoming spring training games.
“See if we like it,” Girardi said. “If we do, we’ll stay with it. If we don’t, we won’t.”
Granderson also will get some playing time in center.
“I’d love to play center. That’s what I’ve been playing. At the same time, I want to play in general,” Granderson said. “No matter where that happens to be, that’s where I want to be at. You never know unless you try things out. We don’t know what the best way is going to be.”
Gardner has previous experience as a center fielder.
“For the last few years I’ve been playing left, and that’s fine with me,” he said. “If we went out there and played right now, I’d go to center, I’d go to left, it doesn’t really matter to me.”
Rodriguez back with Rangers in new role
Ivan Rodriguez made his major league debut as a 19-year-old for the Rangers in 1991. The 14-time All-Star catcher retired as a player last April after 21 seasons, more than half spent in Texas.
The Rangers announced Thursday they have hired him to assist the team in several areas, including international scouting, player instruction on the major and minor league levels and talent evaluation. He will also represent the team in community and marketing endeavors.
He is expected to join the team in Arizona for spring training for a few days late next week.
WBC rosters show 45 MLB all-stars
Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera, World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval and Cy Young knuckleballer R.A. Dickey are among 45 major league all-stars on the rosters for the World Baseball Classic, announced Thursday.
There are seven players who have won MVP awards, including Cabrera, Joe Mauer, Joey Votto and Miguel Tejada.
Japan, which won the first two WBC tourneys, does not have any major leaguers this year.
Ryan Braun, David Wright and Giancarlo Stanton are among the stars on the U.S. team. Jose Reyes, Robinson Cano and free agent Jose Valverde lead the Dominican Republic.
Also, the Cincinnati Reds have excercised their right to block ace Johnny Cueto from pitching for the Dominican Republic in the tournament because of an injury he suffered last season.