By Christopher Saunders
The Yankees have agreed to a minor league contract with free-agent infielder Ruben Tejada, agent Peter Greenberg confirmed to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. Tejada will also have an invite to spring training as well.
Tejada, 27, has spent the vast majority of his career in the other New York organization, but the Mets cut him loose last spring after which he went on to play with the Cardinals and the Giants.
Tejada opened the 2016 summer campaign as the Cardinals’ shortstop but suffered a hamstring injury almost immediately, which opened the door for Aledmys Diaz to break out and cement himself in that role.
With little need for Tejada following Diaz’s breakout, the Cardinals cut him loose in early June.When healthy, Tejada struggled at the dish, batting a mere .167/.247/.242 in 78 plate appearances.
However, he has a track record as a passable offensive contributor relative to his infield peers, awhen looking at the numbers he put up, 2011-15 as he slashed .261/.333/.328.
Tejada has experience at both middle infield positions as well as third base, so he’ll come to camp with the Yankees as a depth option in competition for a bench role behind starters Starlin Castro (second base), Didi Gregorius (shortstop) and Chase Headley (third base).
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