Yankees designate Winn for assignment, keep Russo

Randy Winn could sense his time was running out. And in the end, his experience could not save him.

The Yankees designated the outfielder for assignment Friday to make room on the roster for centerfielder Curtis Granderson, who returned to the starting lineup against Cleveland after missing 24 games because of a left groin strain.

"Curtis is coming back, he's ready, he's playing well, and when a guy comes back, a guy's got to go out,'' Winn said when asked if he had an idea he'd be the one to go. "It fits: outfielder in, outfielder going out.''

The team had the option of sending Kevin Russo back to the minors, but manager Joe Girardi said the Yankees need Russo's flexibility. "We liked the versatility that Russo gives us, being able to play a number of positions for us," he said of the 25-year-old, who is batting .250 with a .286 on-base percentage since joining the team May 20. "He's played well for us since he's been up here and we went with the versatility."

The news didn't come as a shock to Winn, who is in his 13th major-league season. He signed a free-agent contract in February but put up below-average numbers, batting .213 (13-for-61) with one home run and eight RBIs in 29 games. "I just didn't play well, period," said Winn, a career .285 hitter who will turn 36 on June 9. "I played terrible. That's the bottom line."

Said Girardi: "It's a bad day. I've been thinking about it all day, what move we were possibly going to make. It's the worst part of my job, telling someone you're going to designate them . . . You look up and you read some of the stats on Randy Winn and he's fourth among active switch hitters in hits; it's hard. You regret having to do those things, but it's part of the job."

Notes & quotes: Girardi sat Alex Rodriguez on Friday night simply to give his third baseman a rest, the manager insisted. "Even though he has a repaired hip and he may feel 100 percent, we still have to take care of him," Brian Cashman said. ". . . We know we have to win our games and stuff like that, but we also have to protect our players.'' Ramiro Peña played third base . . . Reliever Alfredo Aceves received another epidural shot in his back Friday. "Obviously, he's not where we want him to be, so you give him another one," Girardi said . . . Jorge Posada no longer is wearing a boot on his right foot, but his return date still is unclear. The catcher, who suffered a hairline fracture in the bottom of the foot May 16, met with Dr. Chris Ahmad before Friday night's game and will start doing "movement" exercises," Girardi said . . . Yankees Triple-A pitcher Amaury Sanit, 30, has been suspended for 50 games for violating the minor-league drug program. Major League Baseball announced Friday that the righthander tested positive for mephentermine, a performance-enhancing substance. His suspension is effective immediately.