Zack

Short

The Yankees were apparently short on cash, while the Nationals needed a utility infielder. Short heads to Washington as emergency organizational infield depth at Triple-A Rochester. The versatile 30-year-old was in Yankees camp as a non-roster invitee this spring. He’s gotten into 243 games in the majors between five different organizations since 2021. He’s the definition of a modern-era stopgap solution up the middle.

Fernández is the highest-profile inclusion among the latest batch of cuts from Yankees camp after being claimed off waivers from the Rockies earlier in the offseason. Ornelas and Short figure to stick around as emergency stopgap options for New York in case injuries take a toll on their infield depth.

Cabrera is going through drills and appears to be moving well, but has not practiced sliding yet and has not appeared in any spring games. Cabrera is set to begin the season as a utility player off the bench, so if he were to start the year on the injured list, that would open up a chance for Amed Rosario to see more playing time and Paul DeJong, Zack Short, Braden Shewmake, or Jorbit Vivas, who all have no minor league options, to make the Yankees Opening Day roster

Short fortifies New York’s middle infield depth heading into next season after hitting .220/.291/.380 with two homers across 56 plate appearances over 30 games for the Astros this past season. The 30-year-old journeyman shortstop is the prototypical emergency stopgap option for an organization like the Yankees after getting into 243 games in the big leagues between five different teams over the past half-decade.

The slick-fielding 30-year-old infielder appeared in 22 games during his brief time with the Astros, slashing .220/.291/.380 with two homers and seven RBI in 56 plate appearances. He has shown that he can be a viable bench bat in the right opportunity, though he’ll probably have to settle for a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Short predictably went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment last week to make room for Carlos Correa’s return to Houston. The 30-year-old journeyman utility infielder figures to stick around as emergency depth, but he has the option to elect free agency and pursue an opportunity elsewhere.

Short is booted from the active roster after the Astros added Carlos Correa back to the fold. The slick-fielding Short could see interest on the waiver wire, but his lack of offensive upside means he’s more likely to remain an up-and-down option for the remainder of his career.

Short finally got the Astros on the board with his 340-foot (95.3 mph EV) two-run shot off of Jeffrey Springs in the fifth inning, but all that did was pull the Astros to within seven runs at 9-2. The 30-year-old infielder has done a decent job in his limited action with the Astros this season, slashing .243/.300/.459 with a pair of long balls and seven RBI.

It looks to be nothing more than a breather for the 23-year-old rookie infielder. Matthews has slugged three home runs and driven in eight runs over his first eight games with the Astros, but has done so while slashing just .185/.267/.519 with a 12/2 K/BB ratio in 32 plate appearances. Zack Short will start in his place at shortstop and bat ninth for the Astros on Friday evening in Houston.

Short is back at shortstop and batting ninth after being scratched from Sunday’s lineup with left rib soreness. The 30-year-old utility infielder is hitting .261 (6-for-23) with one homer and five RBI in 12 games this season for the Astros.