Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Yanks considering A-Rod, Jeter for CF job
The New York Yankees have struggled to come up with a decent replacement for veteran Bernie Williams in center field. So they just might turn to Alex Rodriguez or Derek Jeter to do the job, according to a report in The New York Daily News.
The News pointed out that manager Joe Torre told Reuters Monday that the team has considered moving one of the superstar players to the position, which is hallowed ground when you consider that Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle both played there.
"We've thought about it," Torre said when he was asked about the idea of moving A-Rod or Jeter. "We just haven't made a commitment to that. We haven't broached it with the shortstops."
The fact that Torre has thought about moving either superstar is interesting because A-Rod, already a top shortstop, moved to third base to help the Yankees facilitate a trade with the Texas Rangers.
Now, it's possible that one — or both — could be moving. Rodriguez could be shifted to center or, if Jeter moves there, The News says A-Rod could fill the void at shortstop.
"That's happened before, hasn't it?" Torre told Reuters. "Bobby Murcer, Mickey Mantle. Hank Aaron came up as a second baseman. Robin Yount went to center field. It certainly is a consideration."
That Jeter is under consideration for a move to the outfield is hardly a revelation. The Daily News says that even before A-Rod's arrival, a small segment of Yankees' insiders liked the captain's ability to catch fly balls over his shoulder, making him a natural candidate to finish his career as an outfielder.
Jeter won his second consecutive Gold Glove last month, despite critics who feel he has below-average fielding range.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, has been honing his skills as a third baseman, and many feel he has reached Gold-Glove level.
Torre said he had no doubt that neither of the players would have any trouble handling the responsibilities of center field, and that they could learn the position during spring training.
"Jeter would do anything, and so would A-Rod for that matter, to help this ballclub win," Torre told Reuters.
Source: http://msn.foxsports.com/
The News pointed out that manager Joe Torre told Reuters Monday that the team has considered moving one of the superstar players to the position, which is hallowed ground when you consider that Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle both played there.
"We've thought about it," Torre said when he was asked about the idea of moving A-Rod or Jeter. "We just haven't made a commitment to that. We haven't broached it with the shortstops."
The fact that Torre has thought about moving either superstar is interesting because A-Rod, already a top shortstop, moved to third base to help the Yankees facilitate a trade with the Texas Rangers.
Now, it's possible that one — or both — could be moving. Rodriguez could be shifted to center or, if Jeter moves there, The News says A-Rod could fill the void at shortstop.
"That's happened before, hasn't it?" Torre told Reuters. "Bobby Murcer, Mickey Mantle. Hank Aaron came up as a second baseman. Robin Yount went to center field. It certainly is a consideration."
That Jeter is under consideration for a move to the outfield is hardly a revelation. The Daily News says that even before A-Rod's arrival, a small segment of Yankees' insiders liked the captain's ability to catch fly balls over his shoulder, making him a natural candidate to finish his career as an outfielder.
Jeter won his second consecutive Gold Glove last month, despite critics who feel he has below-average fielding range.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, has been honing his skills as a third baseman, and many feel he has reached Gold-Glove level.
Torre said he had no doubt that neither of the players would have any trouble handling the responsibilities of center field, and that they could learn the position during spring training.
"Jeter would do anything, and so would A-Rod for that matter, to help this ballclub win," Torre told Reuters.
Source: http://msn.foxsports.com/
