Joe Girardi likes Martin Prado's versatility for 2015, too
Martin Prado of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a double against the Mets during the fifth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on April 16, 2014 in Phoenix. Credit: Getty Images / Christian Petersen
Joe Girardi typically doesn't look a day ahead, much less a season.
But in discussing what one of his newest players, Martin Prado, brings to the table, Girardi broke that rule.
With Prado under the Yankees' control through 2016 and the 30-year-old able to play multiple positions, he's a player they are banking on for more than the final two months of this season.
"I usually don't talk about next year, but there's obviously some areas that are available next year that he could fill,'' Girardi said, meaning possible holes at third base, shortstop and second base. "It gives us a lot of flexibility this year but it gives us a lot of flexibility next year.''
Prado, who arrived at Fenway Park just before game time Friday night, has played all four infield positions and leftfield. With the Yankees, however, he will play rightfield, a position at which he has played only two innings in his career.
"I think he'll handle it well,'' Girardi said.
The Prado acquisition was one of three the Yankees made before Thursday's 4 p.m. trade deadline. They also obtained Stephen Drew from the Red Sox and signed righthander Esmil Rogers off waivers from the Blue Jays.
Rogers, 28, had a 6.97 ERA in 16 relief appearances during two stints with the Blue Jays this season before being designated for assignment July 27.
"When you're bad, you're bad,'' said Rogers, who traced his struggles to a lack of fastball command and an inconsistent slider, which he described, when on, as being "nasty.''
Said Girardi: "We've always liked his arm. Our goal is to see if we can get this kid on a roll.''
Extra bases
Girardi said Masahiro Tanaka (partially torn UCL) "feels much, much better.'' Some kind of update on his condition is expected Monday. Tanaka received a platelet-rich plasma injection nearly three weeks ago in the hope that he can avoid Tommy John surgery . . . Michael Pineda (right shoulder muscle strain) is slated to make his first rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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