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Chipper Jones to Yankees: I'm happily retired [UPDATE]

Bronx General Manager Brian Cashman is getting creative in his attempts to fill the gaps in his roster left by the injuries of Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez.
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Chipper Jones, Derrek Lee (UPI Photo/John Angelillo -Aaron M. Sprecher) 
Published: March. 11, 2013 at 3:19 PM
Updated March. 11, 2013 at 8:22 PM
By GABRIELLE LEVY, UPI.com

[UPDATE]

Chipper Jones has no plans to leave retirement to rescue the Yankees from their springtime injury woes.

The longtime-Atlanta player tweeted a reply to New York's General Manager Brian Cashman, who asked reporters early Monday to get the word out to Jones to come back to baseball to play for the Yankees.

"Enough with the rumors," Jones wrote. "While I am flattered about the speculation of being enticed out of retirement, I'm happy with life as a bad golfer!"


[ORIGINAL STORY]

Chipper Jones' Major League Baseball career spanned 19 years, all of it with the Atlanta Braves.

Jones retired at the end of 2012, but if Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman has his way, Jones could resuscitate his career, this time in New York.

The Yankees, faced with injuries that will keep several major players out for large chunks of the 2013 season, are getting creative out of desperation to fill the lineup ahead of opening day.

Cashman confirmed to reporters before Monday's spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals that he had asked first baseman Derrek Lee to consider coming out of retirement to replace Mark Teixeira, who will be out until at least May with a wrist injury.

He also asked reporters to spread the word about his interest in Jones, who played third base and outfield through his career, because he didn't have a direct line to Jones' agent.

“Get it out there,” Cashman said. “I would sign him in a heartbeat. He can play third base, first base, D.H. He would be perfect.”

Lee, who Cashman called a "Yankee-type of player," even though he spent most of his career in Chicago and Florida, and never New York, has not played since 2011.

Cashman was not optimistic about either Lee or Jones.

In addition to Teixeira, whose March 7 strained wrist is expected to keep him out for eight to 10 weeks, third baseman Alex Rodriguez could be on the disabled list until mid-season following hip surgery and centerfielder Curtis Granderson is out until at least early May with a fractured forearm.

The team could potentially shift Kevin Youilis from third to first, where he spent much of the time during his eight years on the Boston Red Sox, and play newcomer Ronnier Mustelier at third.

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