Eric Chavez will be placed on the 15-day disabled list by the New York Yankees after breaking a bone in his foot during Thursday's game against Detroit. Utility infielder Ramiro Pena told reporters covering the Yankees' AAA team, Scranton Wilkes-Barre, that he has been recalled and will join the team in Texas.
You have to feel badly for Chavez. He was hitting .290 in a limited role (31 at-bats over 16 games) and appeared to be settling in as a bench player. Chavez earned a spot on the Yankee roster after battling injuries the past few seasons. He played only 33 games for Oakland a season ago, and only eight in 2009. The Yankees signed him hoping he could provide some pop while occasionally resting Alex Rodriguez at third base, and he has shown that he can do that.
Pena was the Yankees' utility infielder in 2009 and 2010, compiling a .253 batting average in 154 games over those two seasons. Primarily known as a defensive player, Pena was hitting .233 at Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Pena lost the utility job to Eduardo Nunez this spring, but Nunez made two errors Thursday in place of Derek Jeter. You have to wonder if the Yankees will re-think that decision when Chavez is ready to return.