Overbay Swaps Red Sox For Pinstripes

Mar 9, 2012; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Lyle Overbay (35) during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at JetBlue Park. The Orioles defeated the Red Sox 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Tuesday’s riddle was “What do you call a Red Sox on one end and a Yankee on the other separated by 150 miles” The answer: Lyle Overbay.

Lyle Overbay was released by the Red Sox on Tuesday morning, got in a car and drove 150 miles from Fort Myers to Tampa.  On Tuesday night he was in a New York Yankees uniform in a spring training games against the Houston Astros. The Yankees, desperate for some depth at first base, signed the 36-year old to a minor league contract and are giving him a three game look see to decide if he can win the starting first baseman’s job outright to start the season.

“He’s going to get an opportunity to play some first,” New York Manager Joe Girardi told mlb.com’s Bryan Hoch. “He’s been a very good first baseman over the years, and he’s going to get an opportunity to show us what he can do.”

Overbay, a non-roster invitee, played in 19 games with the Red Sox this spring. He had a slash line of .220/.327/.341/.668 with 14 Ks and 6 walks and was odd man out in his race with Ryan Sweeney and Mike Carp to back up Boston’s starting first baseman, Mike Napoli.

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