TAMPA — They sacrificed the very valuable Adam Warren to get Starlin Castro from the Cubs and fill a major need at second base.
Castro was 25, a three-time All-Star, had 991 hits in six seasons with the Cubs, and the Yankees believed he was on the cusp of getting better.
That he had played 38 games at second base after spending five-plus years at shortstop didn’t bother the Yankees. Now, with Castro still adjusting to second base, the Yankees are viewing him as a possible backup third baseman to Chase Headley.
Versatility is big with the Yankees’ brass, and they don’t have a true backup infielder who can play second, short or third.
Yet, some believe the Yankees shouldn’t even think about using Castro at third base because it could slow his development at second and might be too much for a player adjusting to New York.
“I think the important thing as we go through this is how comfortable he is and how comfortable we are moving him there,’’ Joe Girardi said of Castro, who will begin fielding grounders at third next week. “If you are ever going to try it, now is the time to try it. You don’t want to try it April 30. Yeah, it is a lot because he is still learning second base. It’s something we feel he is capable of doing, but we just have to get him comfortable and find out.’’
Rob Refsnyder, another second baseman, already has started to take ground balls at third, but he will likely open the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“I start practice next week,’’ Castro said Friday morning prior to a workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “Take ground balls over there and see how I feel. Joe [Girardi] talked to me and asked me if I could play third base. I said, ‘Yes.’ I never played there, but that’s what spring training is about. Start practicing and see how it feels.’’
Because the Yankees have gone this far with the idea, Castro is likely to find himself at the corner in an exhibition game. It’s the same side of the infield as short, where Castro played exclusively for the Cubs from 2010 until last season, but there are vast differences.
“Just listen to the coaches,’’ Castro said when asked about playing third. “Just get in there and try to learn it quick. If I get the opportunity to play there, play good.’’
The pressure on Castro to learn third is not heavy. He is signed through 2019 and is owed $41.428 million.
��It’s more a reflex, reaction position,’’ said Joe Espada, the Yankees’ third base coach, who also is in charge of the infielders. “Stuff will happen faster so it’s more the foundation of their feet to be in better position to react to the ball.’’
When acquired by the Yankees in 2004, Alex Rodriguez shifted from short to third. He hasn’t spoken to Castro about getting used to the new position but anticipates he will.
“There are so many things. The angles are completely different,’’ Rodriguez said of playing third. “There are so many plays you don’t have [short and second], bunting and cutoff and relays. And obviously you don’t get to see what’s going on with the catcher. The most helpful thing is having Tex [Mark Teixeira] and Didi [Gregorius], who has great range at short. That will make the transition a lot easier.’’
Maybe the Yankees find a real utility infielder before Opening Day and never have to put Castro at a position he has never played.