Considering the Yankees have yet to play their 50th game, and that they have someone they hope will be their first baseman for the next half-decade at the MLB level, it’s kind of amazing the Yankees have used six different first basemen already this season. That doesn’t even include Bryan Mitchell, a pitcher who spent an inning at first base in an extra innings game.
Last night Rob Refsnyder became the fourth player to start a game at first base for the Yankees this season, and the seventh to play the position overall, including Mitchell. Here’s the list in order of games played:
- Chris Carter: 31 games (27 starts)
- Greg Bird: 19 games (17 starts)
- Matt Holliday: 5 games (4 starts)
- Austin Romine: 3 games (0 starts)
- Chase Headley: 3 games (0 starts)
- Rob Refsnyder: 1 game (1 start)
- Bryan Mitchell: 1 game (0 starts)
Keep in mind the Yankees have also had Aaron Hicks work out at first base, you know, just in case. Anyway, those seven players have combined to hit .167/.284/.298 (42 OPS+) this season, which is easily the worst first base production in baseball in terms of OPS+. The Mariners have received the second worst first base production at 54 OPS+. Yikes. So much for not being able to be worse than 2016 Mark Teixeira, huh? That was a fun talking point this offseason.
The good news is the Yankees have some help on the way. Bird has been out roughly a month now with an ankle injury sustained back in Spring Training. He is currently in Tampa facing live pitching, and is tentatively scheduled to start a minor league rehab assignment later this week. Bird was terrible earlier this season, truly awful, and we’re all hoping a healthy ankle will get him back on track. That would be rad. Remember how great he was in Spring Training? Of course you do. I want to see that guy again.
The Yankees have more immediate help coming in Tyler Austin, who is 12 days into a 20-game (max) minor league rehab stint after breaking his foot with a foul ball during batting practice early in Spring Training. He’s hitting .393/.469/.607 in nine games at three levels during his rehab stint. Earlier this week Joe Girardi told Bryan Hoch they want Austin to get 50 or so at-bats during his rehab stint, and right now he has 32 plate appearances. He’s getting close.
My guess is the Yankees are planning to activate Austin next Monday, when they return to the Bronx for their next homestand. That would give him another five days on his rehab assignment and more at-bats to get up to speed. Bird? I’m not really sure what the Yankees will do with him. Because he was so bad earlier this year, I think his rehab stint will be longer than usual. They want to make sure he’s all the way back before activating him, you know?
For now, the Yankees are more or less stuck with Carter. I don’t think anyone wants to see Refsnyder or Holliday at first base full-time. (Remember those four annoying infield singles last night? Refsnyder didn’t actually catch three of them. Geez.) Also, Austin and Bird are still rehabbing ankle injuries, and one little misstep could equal a setback. The Yankees aren’t in position to give away first base depth at the moment. Not when the next in line is, uh, Ji-Man Choi? Nah. They have to keep Carter for the time being.
Whenever Austin does return, I do expect the Yankees and Joe Girardi to install him as their regular first baseman, either sending down the eighth reliever or Refnsyder to clear the roster spot. Perhaps they’ll ease Austin into things after the ankle injury and he’ll play two out of every three games initially, something like that, but I think the majority of the playing time at first base is his. Even against righties.
At this point Carter had his chance and failed. Not a big chance, but a chance nonetheless. It’s time to try something else even though the “he can’t be worse than Carter” logic is … not great. We just went through this with Teixeira, right? Bird couldn’t possibly be worse! Then he was. And Carter was worse than him. (Bird was actually worse than Carter, but you know what I mean.) Unless a guy is hitting literally .000/.000/.000, it always can be worse.
Point is, the Yankees have gotten so little production from first base — a position with a high offense bar! — that maintaining the status quo isn’t really viable. As soon as another option comes along, in this case a healthy Austin at the end of his rehab, they should make the switch. And when Bird comes back after his rehab, they can incorporate him back into the lineup too. There are times to be patient and times to act. This is a time to act.
It’s sort of amazing the Yankees have spent just about the entire month of May in first place and are currently second among all teams with an average of 5.33 runs scored per game despite getting so little from first base. Imagine where they’d be with league average (.265/.349/.488) production from the position? Goodness. Hopefully Austin and Bird complete their rehab with no issues and soon, and they correct the serious lack of offense the Yankees have gotten from first base so far this year.
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