New York Yankees Roster Decisions Loom

Yankees catcher Jorge Posada is probably coming off the DL today, but there is no clear choice regarding whom the Yankees will send down when they activate him.

It could be backup catcher Chad Moeller, but because of the nature of Posada’s injury and the position he plays that’s probably not a smart idea, especially as Posada is expected to DH through this weekend.

It could be Juan Miranda, as his at-bats will take a big hit with Posada as the team’s DH. The problem here is that Mark Teixeira is day-to-day as he left yesterday’s game early after fouling a ball off his foot. If Miranda is sent down then there's no insurance at first base while Tex is questionable.

The person the Yankees should send down is Kevin Russo.

Russo is doing well for himself since coming up, despite his mediocre numbers, because he's had some timely hits and has played three different positions, doing well at all three.

The problem is that up until this season Russo was primarily a middle infielder. He never really played third base or the outfield, which is how the Yankees have been using him. In fact, he probably never would have been called up if Colin Curtis hadn't been on the DL.

So the Yankees should send Russo back down to Scranton where he can continue his defensive development in the outfield. (He’s already spent an entire season at Triple-A, so his bat is probably about as ready as it’s ever going to be.)

Meanwhile, when the time comes and Posada is ready to get behind the plate full-time, Moeller will no longer be necessary. At that point the Yankees should DFA him and, if he clears waivers, send him back to Scranton. To take his spot on the roster the Yankees will then call up the outfielder Curtis.

Curtis is, after all, the outfielder the Yankees would have called up in the first place had he not been on the DL. That would give the Yankees a decent bat off the bench, and somebody who can play all three outfield positions, and it would give Russo time to become the super-sub he needs to be to stay in the Bronx for good.

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