Filling Out The Yankees Roster

Pete Caldera on the Yankees roster:

At the start of business Monday morning, there were 16 legitimate reliever candidates inside the Yankees’ clubhouse at Legends Field.

Opening day is in less than three weeks, and manager Joe Girardi believes that the battles among relievers and extra men could be waged until the final hours.

Shelley Duncan entered Monday with a .500 batting average (8-for-16), with nine RBI and was leading the Grapefruit League in slugging percentage. Next door to Ensberg’s locker, old friend and former Astro Jason Lane was batting .312 (5-for-16), with a double, triple and home run.

If Girardi carries only Wilson Betemit as a backup middle infielder, there would be room for Ensberg, a career third baseman who is now making the transition to first base.

But the Yankees also like Lane, 31, another non-roster veteran slugger who is looked at mostly as an outfielder.

Duncan’s spot is secure, though how he’ll be used — with a healthy Jason Giambi starting the bulk of games at first base — is something of a mystery.

If Betemit is the lone extra middle infielder, it would cancel the candidacies of non-roster infielders Nick Green, Cody Ransom, Bernie Castro and Chris Woodward, who entered Monday with a .529 batting average (9-for-17), but had two errors in seven games.

With the relievers, Girardi said he hasn’t seen much separation from his power right-handers. But he really won’t be looking that deeply until the final 7-10 days of camp.

Sean Henn, who is out of options, is being pushed to the limit by Billy Traber, the non-roster lefty who could stick as a specialist.

There might be two spots to fill among Jonathan Albaladejo, Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens, Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras and Bruney.

If Duncan has made the team, then you don’t need Lane. And, you probably could then also consider Woodward over Ensberg – but, I would like to see the Yankees keep two righty bats, like Duncan and Ensberg, so that they can sit both Abreu and Giambi against tough lefties.

Traber or Henn? That’s easy – if Traber is healthy, you have to give him the nod, even if it means losing Henn.

I think Karstens gets a bullpen spot – since Girardi has said he likes having a long man in the pen. As far as the last spot in the rotation, between Albaladejo, Ohlendorf, Ramirez, Veras and Bruney, man, that’s a tough call. I don’t think anyone can make a prediction there at this stage of the spring.

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