New York Yankees Make Wrong Choice Picking Pena

According to Peter Abraham of the Journal News, the Yankees have named Ramiro Pena as their utility infielder and have sent their other candidate for the position, Angel Berroa, to the minors.

In order to to add Pena to the 40-man roster the Yankees designated Dan Giese for assignment. Giese is a long shot to make it through waivers and will probably be picked up by another team.

This is a move that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Mostly because Pena is making the jump from double-A Trenton to the major leagues with a career .635 OPS. If he can’t hit minor league pitching, he certainly won’t be strong against major leaguers and there is no reason to think he is due for a breakout.

Also, this doesn’t make sense because it takes away some roster flexibility the Yankees could have had. If they had taken Berroa, he could have been DFA’d upon Alex Rodriguez’s return without much loss. Instead Pena will have to be kept on the 40-man roster.

This means that the next time they add someone to the roster, Brett Tomko, Kevin Cash and Mark Melancon immediately come to mind, they are going to have to lose a piece that is more valuable than Berroa.

Looking at the roster, a trade could be in the works. There are a couple of players on the roster, like Juan Miranda, who they wouldn’t want to give up for nothing, but have no purpose with the Yankees.

Otherwise, guys like Steven Jackson or Anthony Claggett, or Eric Hacker could be in line to get released next. All because the Yankees are looking for the slight edge, if there even is any at all, of having Pena over the veteran Berroa.