ST. PETERSBURG, Florida – The Yankees changed the pitch of Thairo Estrada to the Giants for cash reasons. Estrada was appointed for the assignment to make room for Rougned Odor on the list of 40 men after his job with the Rangers.
Odor made his first outing for the Yankees Sunday, playing at second base.
The 27-year-old had to shave his beard as part of Yankee politics and said it was “weird.”
Odor said his 3-year-old daughter “doesn’t even want to look at me.”
A more urgent concern is whether Odor will be able to fill at third base, where he has never played in any game, although he worked hard there during the spring.
He said the biggest challenge was the different throwing angle, which forced him to alter his footwork.