Shortly after Lyle Overbay singled off New York Mets phenom Matt Harvey in the sixth inning for what was his ninth go-ahead RBI for the New York Yankees this season, I tweeted that the Yanks need to find a way to keep Overbay on the team after Mark Teixeira returns as soon as Friday, with Kevin Youkilis shortly to follow.
Easier said than done. This is the dilemma facing the Yankees:
• Teixeira, despite similar numbers last season (.251/.332/.475) compared to Overbay's current .251/.295/.468, is in the fifth of an eight-year, $189 million contract he signed in 2009. But beyond the numbers, the Yankees not paying Teixeira handsomely to sit on the bench or be a switch-hitting platoon player. And Teixeira is the better player. Period.
• The idea of Overbay playing some right field was bandied about, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told The New York Post that's not happening. And although Teixeira played some outfield at Georgia Tech, forget about that too.
• Overbay is a left-handed batter who plays first base. The Yankees lineup is lefty heavy with Travis Hafner as the left-handed designated hitter. On days Teixeira gets rest, a healthy Youkilis slides over from the hot corner to man that position.
Overbay is passionate about remaining with the Yankees, telling Mike Francesa on Tuesday that even if he doesn't play for the next month, he wants a chance to stay with a team and compete for a World Series ring. For a player on the bubble, Overbay has been more than what anyone expected from a guy signed by the Yankees after his release from the Boston Red Sox three days before the end of spring training. His 29 RBIs rank second on the Yankees and his eight home runs are third. Last Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays, Overbay's walk off Rays closer Fernando Rodney started the game-tying rally in the ninth and his 11th-inning homer put New York ahead for good.
Tuesday's performance further solidified Overbay's reliance in the clutch, even if his roster spot remains far from secure.
"I mean, we go through those discussions every once in awhile, but I've also said you worry about it when it's the time," said Overbay, who has been released on three occasions. "Other things have happened in the past when you're all worried about it and people want you to talk about it, so until we get to that day we won't say anything. There are ideas, obviously, but things can change real quick around here."
Joe Girardi's stock answer regarding too many men for too few positions has been how the problem usually solves itself, for instance when Curtis Granderson's return to the disabled list with a broken knuckle cleared the outfield glut for at least the next six weeks. But Teixiera played in his first rehab game for Double-A Trenton on Wednesday and is close to completing his comeback from a torn tendon in his wrist. Youkilis, signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, isn't going anywhere either, as long as his back holds up.
David Adams, who has played very well at third base with injuries to Youkilis and Eduardo Nunez, is likely headed back to Triple-A Scranton once Youkilis is activated. Teixeira will be back too and that creates one of those problems teams love to have, but are nonetheless tough to figure out.
"It's all good," Overbay said. "I just want to enjoy it. I don't want it to affect the experience I'm having. So I try not to worry too much about it."
Follow Jon Lane on Twitter: @JonLaneNYC
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