Pena to try to the OF

From Peter Botte (Daily News):

Ramiro Pena proved capable – if not a revelation – in small samples at multiple infield positions this season.

Now, the Yankees will ask the defensively adept rookie to try on another glove to enhance his versatility and his long-term value to the organization.

Pena, as expected, was optioned to Triple-A Scranton before Wednesday night’s game against Seattle to accommodate trade pickup Eric Hinske’s addition to the 25-man roster. The 23-year-old Pena will start some games as an outfielder, Joe Girardi said, making him that much more attractive as a late-season call-up and potential super-sub if injuries arise at the major-league level.

“We’re not saying he’s not an everyday player, but we want him to be versatile, too,” said Girardi, who noted that having such bench players will enable the Yanks to continue carrying 12 or more pitchers on the active roster. “I think it’s real important.

“Any time you have a guy that can do that, they’re extremely valuable. Ramiro Pena is a guy I wouldn’t hesitate to put anywhere in the infield; I would even put him at first base, even though he’s never done it. Being able to play the outfield just makes him that much more valuable.”

Originally, I thought the Yankees were shipping Pena back to the minors so that he could get as many AB’s as possible while continuing to develop as a SS (perhaps their SS of the future). However, it seems as though the Yankees have gauged Pena’s ceiling and believe that he is nothing more than a versatile utility player. Why else would they want him to work on playing the OF? If they truly believed that he could be their future SS—which never seemed like an actual possibility yet folks were enamored with the guy after a strong spring—I don’t think they would have him bouncing around the field.