The New York Yankees had high hopes for the first base
position this year and those high hopes and about $15 could get you a beer at
Yankee Stadium right now. The Yankees first baseman have been, in a word that’s
not really a word, terrible. Greg Bird was hitting exactly .100 before he went
on the disabled list and Chris Carter has been a shell of his former self after
leading the National League in home runs in 2016 while with the Milwaukee
Brewers. With the recent promotion to Triple-A for a rehabbing Tyler Austin could
the Yankees have a decision to make on their hands in the very near future?
Could the Yankees actually cut and designate Carter for assignment while
bringing Austin back to the Major Leagues to play first and the outfield? In
another word that is actually a word, yes. Will they? That cannot be answered
in a word so keep reading.
Austin adds a versatility and some flexibility that the
Yankees bench not only lacks, but needs. Carter is a first baseman or DH only
on a team who already has at least two players just like him in Bird and Matt
Holliday. The fact that Austin has played third base during his professional
career as well as the corner outfield makes so much more sense for him to be
sitting on the bench a few days a week, even when Bird returns off the disabled
list, than having Carter sitting on the bench. The money is a non-issue to me
because in the land of guaranteed contracts the money is spent regardless. I’m
not bothering myself with trying to get under the luxury tax, I’m trying to
compete and I’m trying to win.
Carter was brought in to be the right-handed compliment, not
platoon partner, for Bird and I have news for you. Not only is Austin
right-handed but Austin has right-handed pop to all fields, especially inside
Yankee Stadium. It just makes sense to me. Bringing up Austin not only
continues the youth movement but it makes the team more flexible, more
versatile and truth be told it makes the team flat out better. Austin won’t hit
.300 at the Major League level but I don’t think he will strike out 200 times a
season without taking his walks either. He is a patient hitter and he sprays
the ball everywhere. Austin, unlike Carter, is not one-dimensional and would
make manager Joe Girardi’s job just that much easier as the team has run just
three extra positional players for much of the season.
So when Austin gets back and ready will the Yankees
designate Carter for assignment? I don’t know. Should they? Absolutely!
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)