Final Roster Update: Solarte Makes Club, Nunez to Triple-A

Mar 5, 2014; Port Charlotte, FL, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Yangervis Solarte (89) singles during the fourth inning Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Yankees roster is set. Yangervis Solarte has made the 25-man roster and Eduardo Nunez has been optioned to Triple-A. Solarte batted .429 with 2 home runs and 9 RBI as a non-roster invite in Spring Training. Nunez batted .265 with one home run and 4 RBI while committing many of his famous errors this spring. The 26-year-old Solarte will join Dean Anna as the team’s two backup infielders in 2014.

He’s a career minor leaguer who signed a minor league deal with the Yankees this off-season and opened a lot of eyes in spring training. Nunez’s error-prone defense seems to have finally cause the Yankees to sour on him and his offensive prowess has never lived up to it’s billing. Solarte may receive a good amount of playing time with Derek Jeter needing some days off from time to time and Brian Roberts and Kelly Johnson question marks in the infield.

The Venezuelan native has spent time at second base and shortstop as well as third base and the outfield. Nunez was came into Spring being viewed as a lock to be the backup infielder but after Brendan Ryan‘s injury the Yankees were without a defensive minded infielder and may have seen Nunez’s faults as too much of a liability to join the team at the start of the regular season. Solarte is not on the 40-man Roster and the Yankees have until Tuesday to make room for him.