Bronson

Sardinha

Sardinha is batting .333/.375/.485 in 66 AB in Arizona. An outfielder once again after trying third base in 2004, he hit .258/.338/.398 in 503 AB for Double-A Trenton last season. Even though he’s been around a long time, he doesn’t turn 23 until April. His tools may turn him into a useful player someday.

Sardinha, who hit .333 (3-for-9) in 10 games this season, will be used primarily as a pinch-runner.

Sardinha, a 2001 first-round pick, will get to make his major league debut, but after he hit just .222/.306/.387 in 388 at-bats in Triple-A this season, he’s hurt his chances of having a career as a bench player.

That’s one way to take care of the 40-man roster crunch. Rasner might end up being the Yankees’ cost for Carl Pavano’s refusal to accept a minor league deal. Of the four players here, he’s the only one with much chance of making the Yankees miss him. Beam might not be completely useless out of the pen, but the Bombers had at least 10 guys in front of him.

With Andy Pettitte accepting arbitration, the Yankees had to clear another 40-man roster spot. The 24-year-old Sardinha went 3-for-9 off the bench in September. He hit .222/.306/.387 in Triple-A last season.

Chen was just 2-for-10 this spring, but he did have a homer and three walks. He could prove to be a better option at second base than Willie Bloomquist or Miguel Cairo if Jose Lopez struggles or gets hurt. Aumont, a 2007 first-rounder, allowed three runs in one-third of an inning in his only appearance.

A former first-round pick, Sardinha has hit just .267/.347/.408 in eight minor league seasons and is now little more than roster filler at the age of 25.

Sardinha, 23, was Rule 5 eligible a year ago. He couldn’t master Double-A in parts of three seasons at the level, but he suprised the Yankees by batting .286/.365/.492 in 185 at-bats after moving up to Triple-A last season. The 2001 first-round pick has a chance at a career as a bench player.

Sardinha, 21, hit .315/.389/.403 in 63 games for Single-A Tampa. He’s going to need show more power and improve defensively in order to become a regular in the majors.