In the summer of 2010, the Yankees off
their 27th World Series title came within a hair of
acquiring Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners. The deal did not
materialize between the Yankees and the Mariners. The reason was
Brian Cashman's refusal to part without Eduardo Nunez. It was
believed at that time that Nunez would eventually be the shortstop
that replaced Derek Jeter. Overlooking the fact that Derek Jeter
cannot be truly replaced, it was
believed that Nunez could have been that player. In the time since that
deal fell-through, Nunez has continually disappointed on both sides
of the baseball. In addition to his near ineptitude as a defender on
the left side of the infield, his vaunted bat never truly
materialized. He showed inadequate power, and a true deficiency in
his ability to get on base. Though the most damning of his time in
the big-leagues came in 2013, when Jeter was almost entirely on the
DL. Nunez had the opportunity to show his talents on a full-time
basis, at his natural position of shortstop, and the Yankees found
themselves having to acquire Brendan Ryan after September 1st.
It was then that no one could possibly have considered Nunez a
realistic alternative for any of the Yankees future plans.
2011, and 2013 were Nunez's largest
statistical samples in both games and plate appearances:
2011 Games-112, Plate Appearances- 338:
.265/.313/.385/.698
2013 Games-90, Plate Appearances- 336:
.260/.307/.372/.679
Nunez's lack of performance was not due
to any lack of support on the part of the Yankees. From the time they
walked away from the table with Seattle, to when it was extremely
clear that Derek Jeter's 2013 season was a wash, they gave Nunez
every opportunity to cement the job. Yet at each turn, Nunez fell
well short. Even as Nunez was thought to be a sure fire piece going
into spring training 2014, on a Yankees team that desperately needs
depth on the left side of the infield, he was designated for
assignment so that Yangervis Solarte could be placed on the 40 man
roster.
In its own way, the move is a relief.
The Yankees have been trying to make the situation with Nunez work
for so long, and have failed so miserably, it is a comfort to know
they have finally moved on and cut their losses. It would make any
person familiar with the situation dumbfounded if he maintained his
status with Solarte hitting .500 for most of the spring.
It is clear that replacing Jeter at
short would be no simple task, even if Nunez had been fully
competent. It is now clear that whoever the soul is that has to
follow Jeter, no one currently has a clue as to who that might
be. No doubt making a very difficult transition far more painful.
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