Yankees release Lind from Minors contract

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Adam Lind, who signed with the Yankees on March 2, was released Wednesday morning, before the Yankees lost to the Orioles, 7-4.
Lind, a third-round Draft pick of the Blue Jays in 2004 and a 12-season veteran with Toronto, Milwaukee, Seattle and Washington, was originally intended to back up first baseman Greg Bird. But the addition of veteran infielder Neil Walker on Monday limited Lind's role.
In 116 games with the Nationals last season, Lind hit .303 with 14 home runs and 59 RBIs, playing first base and left field.
"He can really hit," manager Aaron Boone said of what he saw from Lind in his brief time in camp. "And even coming in here, I thought his at-bat quality, for having not faced any pitching, we kind of threw him to the wolves pretty quick. He wanted to get into a game, and he shows you what a professional hitter he is.
"So we wish him well. Kind of one of those unfortunate [situations], that a guy that's that good a hitter and coming off a very solid season is without a job right now. You feel bad about that. But obviously, especially with the Neil Walker signing, just wasn't going to be a place for him here.
"And he was part of that conversation. He could have hung around and maybe been more of an insurance policy and gotten some at-bats. But we respect who he is and what he's done. I think he felt this is best at this time."
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Giving that kind of news is never an easy task for any manager, especially a first-year skipper.
"You guys have asked me what the tough part of the job is, and I've talked about time management a little bit," Boone said. "But any time you're giving that kind of news, when you're talking about people's livelihoods, those aren't fun conversations, especially when you respect the body of work -- and in Adam's case, a guy that should have a Major League job right now. So those aren't fun, but frankly he made it easy, and we kind of talked through it with him."
Rough Chance
Right-hander Chance Adams had a rough outing against the Orioles on Wednesday. The Yanks' No. 6 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, went 1 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits, including two home runs, with no walks, one strikeout and one wild pitch.
"Command's got to be better," Adams said. "I was leaving balls up, wasn't hitting my spots too well. So just got to go out there and command the ball a little bit better."

"Yeah, I think that's part of it," Boone said. "He also just doesn't have the velo right now on his fastball. So I think that takes away a little bit from his slider, which I thought showed pretty well today. But perhaps just the time in the spring or whatever, but I just thought stuff-wise it wasn't quite what we're used to seeing with him."
The home runs Adams allowed -- both two-run shots, by Adam Jones in the first and Jonathan Schoop in the second -- came on fastballs.
"Both in," Adams said. "Left them a little too middle, not in enough, not high enough, just not good pitches really.
"Just Spring Training, getting my arm ready, so hopefully it'll pick back up," he said. "I'm kind of low every Spring Training usually. But I'm not making excuses. Mostly the command today. I was just missing a little over the middle. I need to be down or I need to be a little higher."
It hasn't been an easy spring for Adams. Entering the game, he had made two Grapefruit League appearances (one start) spanning three innings, giving up a run on two hits and three walks.
"Yeah, it hasn't been too great of a spring for me," he said. "Just got to let it go, and I have to get better as the season goes on. Nothing really happens too good if you just dwell on what happens. Just got to be focused on the future and let the past go."
Adams' recent outings, though, do not detract from the organization's opinion of him.
"He always remains in the conversation because of the work he's done," Boone said. "He's earned that. So he'll continue to get opportunities and always be a guy that we're watching very closely. But I just thought the stuff was a tick down today."
This and that
• Aaron Judge went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Wednesday's game. In the first inning, he grounded into a double play after leadoff batter Tyler Wade was hit by a pitch. In the Yankees' three-run second, he struck out looking to end the inning with two runners on. He led off the fifth, striking out against left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr.
Judge, who had an arthroscopic procedure on his left shoulder in November, is batting .174 in nine spring games, going 4-for-23, with one double, one home run and 10 strikeouts. His shoulder feels fine, he said, but he is still working on his timing at the plate.
"It's Spring Training, still working on some things," Judge said. "Kind of fiddling around with hand placements, approaches, stuff like that. Just trying to get ready for Opening Day."
It's just a matter of time and timing, Boone believes.
"I think, all in all, I've actually been pretty good with the timing," Boone said. "I think it's now just about getting reps. I thought he was close on a couple of balls today. I think he's recognizing the ball well. So I actually think he's in a good place, and I think he's close. I think now, tomorrow he's going to play again, he's going to DH. That'll be his first time going three days in a row. I think he's fine."
• Erik Kratz, serving as the designated hitter, hit his first home run of the spring Wednesday, a solo shot to left field off right-hander Miguel Castro in the fourth.

Injury updates
• Boone said outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who is sidelined with a right oblique strain, had a good workout day Wednesday.
"I think he hit live in the cage, actually stood in and tracked some balls," Boone said. "Did some defensive work and ran. So he's well on his way. We don't' have plans yet for him to get in a game but I would imagine those are starting to be pretty close to happening."
• Outfielder Clint Frazier, out with a concussion, is also progressing, but he is not as close to returning as Ellsbury.
"Came in today better than yesterday, [and] yesterday was a pretty good day," Boone said. "I think he was getting on the bike and playing catch today. The neurologist will actually be here in person tomorrow, so he'll have a chance to in person be evaluated by him. Just hope he can continue to progress."
Up next
Right-hander Sonny Gray is scheduled to make his third Grapefruit League start Thursday when the Yankees host the Pirates at 1:05 p.m. ET. Gray has pitched 5 2/3 combined scoreless innings this spring, giving up three hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Right-hander Joe Musgrove is expected to start for the Pirates. Watch the game on MLB.TV.