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With no flexibility, Yanks need Nunez healthy

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Yankees are running low on choices at shortstop, so they are keeping their fingers crossed that Eduardo Nunez's right hamstring can tolerate three games on the artificial surface at Tropicana Field.

Jayson Nix's fractured left hand deleted one of the Yankees' primary options at the position, and with Derek Jeter unlikely to return before Monday's series opener at Toronto, Girardi said that he would "have to be a little creative" if anything happened to Nunez.

"You feel like you're playing a little short, but we understand the situation," Girardi said. "I'm OK with that."

When Nix was placed on the disabled list on Thursday, the Yankees recalled right-hander Preston Claiborne from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre instead of an infielder. Nunez is guarding an injury he sustained on Sunday at Fenway Park.

Girardi did play second baseman Robinson Cano at shortstop once earlier this season, and the manager said that Vernon Wells has already volunteered to play the infield again. Alex Rodriguez is not thought to be an option to fill in at shortstop.

"I'd have to see where we are and how guys were and see where we are in the game to decide what I'm going to do," Girardi said. "You probably don't want to move too many guys around, so you try to keep it as simple as possible. We'll see."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat.
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