Yankees first baseman Greg Bird is expected back some time this weekend (probably Sunday). General Manager Brian Cashman will have a tough decision to make when that happens; they’ll have to clear a roster spot.
Bird is a big, left-handed power threat—one of the few things on offense that the Yankees have been missing. Their lefties haven’t hit many home runs, even though they lead the league in homers with 79. Didi Gregorius has 11 (10 of those came in April); Hicks has four home runs batting left handed (one of those being inside-the-park); Neil Walker now has two from the left side after the series against Texas; and Brett Gardner cracked one on opening day.
Of course, having righties like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez will do that. Still, the Yankees surely want to take advantage of the short porch in right field,adding Bird back to the lineup will do that.
The Yankees need to figure out who will be sent down when Bird comes back (and Kahnle, and Warren… but Bird will be back first). It’s not a simple task; someone is gonna get the short end of the stick.
Let’s start by looking at the guys who are guaranteed to stay put.
Starting pitchers (5): Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Sonny Gray, 5th spot (Domingo German, for now)
Relievers (5): Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances, David Robertson, Chad Green, Jonathan Holder
Catchers (2): Gary Sanchez, Austin Romine
Infielders (4): Bird, Gleyber Torres, Didi Gregorius, Miguel Andujar
Outfielders (4): Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks
Five spots remaining. At least two of the spots will go to relief pitchers. So let’s just say it’s Chasen Shreve and AJ Cole, for now (it’ll be more of an issue when Kahnle and Warren come back, but that isn’t what we’re trying to figure out right now).
Actually, another one will probably go to a reliever. Cashman and the Yankees have established that they like carrying that eighth reliever.
Two spots left! Keep in mind that Romine is already one of the bench bats.
The two spots have to be decided between Neil Walker, Tyler Austin, Brandon Dury, Clint Frazier, and Ronald Torreyes.
Ronald Torreyes, I think, is guaranteed his spot. What he does might not pay off for him contractually, but he is a really valuable piece. His ability to not play for a week or two and then be thrust into competition with quality at bats, not to mention his phenomenal defense: he can play second, shortstop, third base, corner outfield (in a pinch), and he’s also the emergency catcher. Lil’ Baby Toe stays.
So now one spot is left for Walker, Austin, Drury, and Frazier. Clint Frazier is staying in AAA, there is just no room for him on the 25-man roster. It’s not exactly fair to him, but that’s what happens when you have assembled this much talent.
Drury is also kind of stuck in AAA. He’s down there right now since he’s not quite all the way healthy, but eventually he will be, so we will see what happens there. For now he’s staying down there.
The real decision is between Neil Walker and Tyler Austin. They both deserve to be up with the big club.
Walker got off to a dreadful start, but his stats are creeping up to his career averages. His line is up to .220/.297/.317 (68 wRC+), according to Fangraphs. He also provides versatility defensively. He plays first base, second base, and third base. We also can’t forget they also signed him for an absolute bargain due to the abnormal free agency of the past offseason. He’s making just $4 million and he is producing. To remove him from the 25-man roster is to cut him from the team, and he’s producing far too much to be lost for nothing in return.
That leaves Tyler Austin as the odd man out. He really does not deserve to be sent down, but the organization doesn’t lose him by sending him down, and he will get to play every day in AAA. Austin deserves to be on an MLB roster, somewhere, it just seems like that won’t be with the Yankees, long term.
Austin has mashed left handed pitching this year he has a slash line of .293/.362/.634 against them. Overall, he has a line of .238/.297/.535 (121 wRC+), which is great overall for him. Unfortunately, the choice is between him and Neil Walker, and Walker is the choice.
Aaron Boone said a couple of nights ago, “Tyler Austin is an important part of what we’re doing right now. . . He’s playing great. He’s done a great job all year. He’s been a part of us winning games and hopefully that continues.”
Boone seems to want him around, but it isn’t that simple.
I could see them going a couple of days keeping Austin on the active roster when Bird comes back. For a series or two they might value having Austin as a fourth bench bat, or as a late-game pinch hitting opportunity. But I can only see that lasting so long; eventually, they’ll bring back an eighth reliever and give Austin regular at bats in AAA.
Featured image via Flickr/Arturo Pardavilla III
