TAMPA — Oswaldo Cabrera might be the Yankees’ primary backup shortstop.
He might be the primary backup at first base — and could even start at third base — if DJ LeMahieu’s foot injury leaks into the season.
He can play second if need be. He surely will find time at some point in the outfield, where he primarily played last season.
The Yankees sure seem to need Cabrera’s glove, which makes signs of his bat coming to life all the more encouraging for the team.
Cabrera, who did not hit well last season and has not hit well for much of the Grapefruit League season, smacked his first home run and double of the spring on Monday, a boost to a roster candidacy that manager Aaron Boone said is not guaranteed.
“I think him getting some results here over the last week or 10 days has been important for him,” Boone said after the 4-3 win over the Phillies at Steinbrenner Field. “He’s been working his tail off on making adjustments with the coaches.”
A strong end of camp likely would clinch a spot for Cabrera, whose glove is invaluable but whose bat never got going last season.
The utilityman hit just .211 with five home runs in 115 games, finding his way into lineups anyway because his glove filled holes all over the field.
This spring, Cabrera said his swings — both from the left and right side — are different than last season’s swings.
“It’s just a couple things,” Cabrera said, “It’s more short to the ball.”
The swing was short enough to redirect a 98.1 mph fastball from Seranthony Dominguez 395 feet away to right-center for a homer. In Cabrera’s next at-bat, again batting lefty, he hooked a double down the right-field line off righty Austin Brice.
“To put a charge into one on a pitch up from Seranthony,” Boone said, “it’s one of the better swings from him I’ve seen for a long time.”
The 2-for-3 day was some solace in a spring that has not been strong offensively. Cabrera is now 8-for-39 (.205) with four walks and 10 strikeouts.
Spring results generally don’t matter — unless a player is on the fringes of the roster.
Cabrera has now not hit for a long stretch of time, and unless more days like Monday arrive, the Yankees will have to decide exactly how much his glove is worth.
“He’s right in that mix,” Boone said of a crowded battle for a pair of backup infield spots. “But again, we’re kind of trying to consider everyone and everything. We know what a great teammate he is, a team guy he is, and the defensive versatility is so real.”
The versatility also might be needed.
Cabrera came up through the Yankees’ system as a shortstop, a position he has barely played in the majors because of Anthony Volpe’s durability last season.
Yet, if something happens to Volpe, it is possible Cabrera would be the only capable fill-in (unless someone like non-roster invite Kevin Smith makes the roster or the Yankees scoop up a shortstop from another team).
The most likely in-house candidate was Oswald Peraza until his shoulder eliminated him from Opening Day contention.
LeMahieu’s bone bruise on his foot has put his status in jeopardy, which would create a need not just at third but at first, where LeMahieu was the lone backup for Anthony Rizzo.
Cabrera started at first base Monday and has held his own at third for five games this spring, comfortable wherever the Yankees throw him.
There are no questions with the glove. Perhaps Monday began to answer the question with the bat.
“I will say it’s been good to see him get a little bit of offensive traction,” Boone said.