Is Scott Sizemore The Next Yankees Utility Infielder?

Mar 8, 2014; Kissimmee, FL, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Scott Sizemore (24) bats in the second inning against the Houston Astros in a spring training exhibition game at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

With a quick and massive slew of injuries hitting the Yankees’ infield all of a sudden, some roster moves are going to have to be made–and fast! Brian Roberts is out with back issues, Derek Jeter has been held out for each of the past two games with a minor quad injury, Francisco Cervelli injured himself during tonight’s finale of the Red Sox/Yankees’ series, and Mark Teixeira is still nowhere to be found. The Yankees were so desperate for a first baseman, Carlos Beltran became the first baseman for the remainder of the night after Cervelli exited due to injury. And oh yeah, Brendan Ryan is still on the disabled list with a back injury…

Unless Brian Cashman is currently on the line with Scott Boras discussing contract terms for Stephen Drew, the next man up from Triple-A Scranton will be the hot-hitting Scott Sizemore. Much like Yangervis Solarte and Dean Anna, Sizemore can play multiple infield postions, and he’s earned the call-up. In 10 games, and 32 at-bats, Sizemore is hitting .344, with three doubles and five RBI. He has previous big league experience with the Tigers and Athletics. During spring training, he was recovering from a devastating knee injury that had previously sidelined him for each of the past two seasons. Here’s the other key point to bring Sizemore to the Bronx: much like Solarte, if Sizemore isn’t on the big league roster by May 1st, he can opt-out of his minor league deal with the Yankees and pursue employment elsewhere.

Brian Cashman once again, has left the Yankees scrambling, with a roster full of injury-plagued infielders (Teixeira, Roberts) and not enough depth where he needed it. Thank goodness Carlos Beltran was able to step in, but he, like Kelly Johnson and Francisco Cervelli before him, are band-aids for gut wounds. While Sizemore will give Joe Girardi more flexibility on the left side of the infield along with second base, it still doesn’t take care of the first base issues. Kendrys Morales is still on the market, and I’m not sold on the fact that Tex is now nothing more than an overpaid first base version of Brian Roberts.