Yankees Demote Nunez So He Can Focus on Improving at Shortstop Eduardo Nunez has played five positions and committed four errors in 20 games this season, two things that factored into the Yankees" decision Friday to demote him to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Nunez, 24, will play almost every day at shortstop and occasionally at second base in the minors. Although he has established himself with a promising bat and athleticism, his defense has become a liability. Nunez led the Yankees with 20 errors last season. He committed two errors in Thursday's victory against Tampa Bay. "We've asked Nuney to do some things that you usually ask veteran players to do - play third, short, second, left, right," Manager Joe Girardi said. In the best interest of him and us moving forward, we thought it would be more important for him to go down to play shortstop six days a week, and maybe second another day a week, and get him back to playing every day. The problem for Nunez is that the Yankees" shortstop position belongs to Derek Jeter, who has two years left on his contract. Girardi pointed to Mariano Rivera's injury and the Yankees" closer situation as an example of why the club cannot look too far in the future. But if Jeter stays healthy and Nunez establishes himself as a suitable shortstop in the minors, the demotion could enhance Nunez's trade value. "I don't see him as a utility guy," Girardi said. I see him as an everyday player. We made this move - it's tough because he's a great kid with a great work ethic who's willing to do anything for you, that provides a lot of excitement. But for his development, we thought it would be more important to get him playing every day at short. If Nunez is eventually recalled, Girardi did not rule out playing him in the outfield "in a pinch." But Girardi also did not want to continue disturbing Nunez's defensive development because Nunez must throw from different arm angles at each position. Girardi said there had been games this season when Nunez did not know which glove to wear because he plays so many positions, and added that "things slowed down for him" when Nunez was able to play shortstop on a daily basis. Second baseman Robinson Cano, who grew close to Nunez, said the benefits of a demotion depend upon how the player takes it. Jeter pointed out that he and Rivera were once demoted on the same day, and no player likes a demotion - especially when it comes as a surprise. But the value of playing in the major leagues can be diminished when a player is stuck on the bench or cannot play the position that the team envisions for him in the future. "He needs to play," Jeter said. It's fun to be here, but he needs to play. Without Nunez on the roster, Girardi said Jayson Nix will become the Yankees" backup shortstop and second baseman. Eric Chavez will be the backup third baseman. Chavez, who took Nunez's spot on the roster, had been on the disabled list since May 3 after sustaining a concussion. The Yankees activated him before Friday's game against Seattle and he was in the lineup as designated hitter. Girardi said the Yankees had to wait for Chavez to pass the test that evaluates concussions before they were able to insert him in the lineup. Chavez said he felt well enough to play before undergoing three days worth of tests that cleared him. He did not view the evaluation as an indicator of how he was feeling and considered it more complex than the baseline test he remembered taking in 2008. SETBACK FOR GARDNER Brett Gardner will not start swinging a bat for more than a week after sustaining a setback in his recovery from a right elbow injury. Gardner's initial bone bruise is mostly healed, but he aggravated a muscle strain in the elbow. Friday was the second day of an 8-to-10-day period in which Gardner cannot bat. Joe Girardi said it would be "almost impossible" for Gardner to return to the Yankees within 15 days. Gardner's new problem arose during a rehabilitation game in Class AAA. He said the injury hurt "considerably more" on swings and misses, and that he feels the strain when he must extend his arms. Gardner can still run and participate in outfield drills. "It's just something that I need to let heal completely before I get out there," Gardner said. It's not something I want to continue to deal with. It's a little setback, but hopefully in a week, week and a half, I'll be 100 percent and won't look back.