Voit thinks hitters should adapt to the shift instead of hoping it gets banned

LAKELAND, Fla. — Luke Voit doesn’t really give a shift.

The Yankees slugger, who has had to evolve constantly over the yearsasahitter, doesn’t really think Major League Baseball should changethegametoomuch, including limitations on the defensive shifts.

“In my opinion, you gotta adapt in this game. If you don’t adapt, you find your way out of it,” Voit said when asked about the rules that MLBwill be testing out in the minor leagues this season.

“AndI think a lot of players have found the way out because of the shifting. It’s smart. If you’ve got to hit the ball to the opposite field or try to do something different with your approach, you change it. I think a lot of guys get content and theyfindtheirwayoutofthegame.

“So I think guys need to adapt to the game. AndIthink it’s smart.”

Voit’s last statement was in reference to the extreme shifting that MLB teams — including the Yankees — do.

“Obviously, it’s worked for a lot of teams and helped a lot of teams that usually wouldn’tbearound, be in the playoffs every year,” he said.

On Thursday, MLB announced a bunch of experimental rule changes that will be tested in the minor leagues this year. The most notable was in Double A: Teams will be required to “have a minimumof four players on the infield, each of whom must have both feet completely in front of the outer boundary of the infield dirt.”

That would mean teams like the Rays would not be able to use a fourthoutfielder, astheydoagainst hitters such as Kyle Higashioka from time to time. MLB also said that, based on first-half results, it may require teams to position two infielders on either side of second base during the second half of the Double-Aseason.

Right, Gardy?: After naming Clint Frazier their starting left fielder, the Yankees are looking to use Brett Gardner in a more versatile role. Friday, thatputhiminright field— aposition wherehehasone gameof experience.

“WithClint establishing himself a little bit last year, I’ve been looking to transfer Gardy to this kind of fourth outfielder role, where I could see him play in all three positions depending on where the most pressing defensive need is,” manager Aaron Boone said.

Dots all folks: Jameson Taillon struggled with command, leaving withtwoonandtooutsinthethird inning. Addison Russ spared Taillon’s spring ERA, getting him out of the jam with one pitch. Taillon walked three and struck out four. ...Jay Bruce continued to force his way into the roster conversation with another single.

Caris LeVert will make his Pacers debut on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

A small cancerous mass was found on his left kidney during an examination after he was traded from the Nets as part of the four-team deal involving James Harden. The guard underwent surgery to remove the mass in late January. The 26-yearold LeVert averaged 18.5 points and six assists in 12 games for Brooklyn prior to the trade.

The Pacers will take on the Suns on Saturday.

Rockets guard Eric Gordon will be out for four to six weeks with a strained groin, sources told ESPN. Gordon suffered the injury in a loss to the Kings on Thursday, the team’s 14th consecutive this season. He’s averaging 17.8 points for the Rockets.

College football: The Nebraska athletic department acknowledged Friday that it explored the possibility of backing out of this fall’s game at Oklahoma before ultimately deciding to go ahead with it. The game is Sept. 18 in Norman, Oklahoma, and will mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Game of the Century, Nebraska’s 35-31 win over the Sooners in a clash of the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the nation. According to unidentified sources who spoke to Stadium, the Huskers contacted teams in the Mid-American Conference and Old Dominion about playing in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Sept. 18. The Lincoln Journal Star also reported Nebraska officials explored the feasibility of not playing the Sooners.

MLB: Outfielder Nick Markakis has retired after 15-year career with the Braves and Orioles. The 37-year-old Markakis, who was a free agent, told The Athletic that he was done playing after accumulating 2,388 hits, earning his lone All-Star selection in 2018 and coming within one win of reaching the World Series in his final season.

NFL: The 49ers agreed to a two-year contract with cornerback Emmanuel Moseley. Moseley will earn up to $10.1 million under the contract.