Chavez, Soriano Returning To Help Yankees

With the trade deadline quickly approaching, the Yankees are out there looking to find anyone that can improve the team. They have been linked at one time or another to players like Ubaldo Jimenez, Tyler Clippard, Hiroki Kuroda, and Craig Breslow. While we wait to find out if a deal can be made for any of them, New York has two players returning from the disabled list who can help immediately.

Chavez, the veteran third baseman, originally hit the disabled list with a fractured foot. His rehab was pushed back when a back issue was followed by kidney stones. Chavez had been hitting .303 with an on base percantage of .410 before going down with the injury.

Chavez could see himself inserted in the lineup immediately and spell Eduardo Nunez who has been replacing Alex Rodriguez at third base. Nunez has done ok with the bat but struggled in the field. Chavez is a veteran gold glove infielder. Manager Joe Girardi will likely take it easy with Chavez due to his injury history. The left handed hitting Chavez can give the Yankees a lift whether he is in the starting lineup or coming off the bench.

Also returning to the team is relief pitcher Rafael Soriano. The high priced set-up man has been on the disabled list with elbow inflammation since May 14th. In 16 games prior to the injury, Soriano was 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA. Those are not the type of numbers the Yankees expected when they signed Soriano to a three year deal before the season began.

With Soriano on the DL, David Robertson has been tremedous in the set-up role. Robertson made the All-Star team and is currently 3-0 with an impressive 1.58 ERA. Robertson has given up just 29 hits while striking out 63 in 40 innings of work.

Soriano has been known to be some what of a selfish player. Will the Yankees put him back in the set-up role immediately despite Robertson’s success? If the Yankees keep Robertson there, how will Soriano react?

This could be a good problem to have. Despite Soriano’s bad start, he does have very good stuff and can get batters out. You may see the Yankees split the role to keep both players fresh down the stretch.