Steve Pearce Acquisition a Timely One for New York Yankees
August 28, 2012 · Phil Watson · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The New York Yankees lost first baseman Mark Teixeira for at least the remainder of their series with the Toronto Blue Jays after Teixeira left Monday night’s 8-7, 11-inning loss with a strained left calf (per ESPNNewYork.com).
Good timing for the Yankees, then, that earlier Monday they picked up outfielder-first baseman Steve Pearce from the Houston Astros in exchange for cash considerations (per MLB.com).
This will be Pearce’s second stint in the Yankee organization this season. New York signed Pearce to a minor-league deal (per Josh Norris of the Trentonian via Twitter) after he was released by the Minnesota Twins late in spring training (per nbcsports.com).
He started the regular season with Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre, where he hit .318 with 11 homers and 30 RBI in 53 games before he was sold to the Baltimore Orioles on June 2 (per MLB.com).
In 28 games for the Orioles, Pearce hit .254 with three homers and 14 RBI but was shortly on the move again when he was claimed by the Astros off waivers on July 28 (per CBSSports.com).
With Houston, Pearce appeared in 21 games with a .254 average and eight RBI.
It’s been a whirlwind 2012 for Pearce, who played the first seven seasons of his career in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization after they took the former South Carolina Gamecock in the eighth round of the 2005 amateur draft.
While Teixeira is out, manager Joe Girardi has options. Nick Swisher, who continued his torrid hitting in August by belting his 20th home run Monday night, has made nine starts at first base while filling in for Teixeira this year. Swisher has hit .327 in 98 August at-bats with six home runs and 21 RBI.
Other possibilities at first include Eric Chavez, who moved over from third base to finish Monday night’s game on the right side of the infield, recently acquired Casey McGehee or Pearce.
Given how well Swisher is hitting right now, I’d be loath to disrupt his routine by moving him from the outfield. Some combination of Chavez from the left side of the plate with McGehee or Pearce from the right might make more sense, particularly if it’s just a short-term injury for Teixeira, who has hit .255 with 23 home runs and 81 RBI.
The ESPNNewYork.com report contained some positive news for injured Alex Rodriguez. Out since July 25 with a broken left hand, Rodriguez has been cleared to take full batting practice following an MRI on the injured hand. Rodriguez was hitting .276 with 15 homers and 44 RBI when he went down.
Read more New York Yankees news on BleacherReport.com
Yankee Tickets
Shop Yankee
