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New York Yankees Editorial: Stephen Drew VS Brendan Ryan

By Kat Frye

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It was only a matter of time before New York Yankees rookie Rob Refsnyder debuted for the major league club this season. Now that he is here, and reportedly will stay for a while, that leaves the Yankees with too many middle infielders.  Most likely the Yankees will send down Gregario Petit to make room, but eventually Carlos Beltran‘s return will prompt another cut. Does Refsynder’s debut mean the end for Stephen Drew? Or, is this the end for Brendan Ryan?

It is an unexpected debate; deciding between two declining middle infielders. But here we are. So fans, what should the Yankees do? Considering each player’s skillsets it may come down to Ryan’s health and the platoon preference Girardi may want to employ. It isn’t exactly Batman VS Superman, but it is an interesting question.

In comparing the two, neither one makes an obvious winning impression. Drew with a batting average of .182 has the worst batting average in all of baseball. He has played passable defense, but it has not been outstanding.

At the midway point of the season, Drew has five errors, and his range is not what it used to be.  But, his defense is still pretty good and he can play second base, shortstop, and third base. He also has displayed quite a bit of power. He has 12 home runs this year, including one Grand Slam.

If Drew stays with team he could be platoon in a righty, lefty combo with Refsynder who bats right, and could back up Didi Gregorious and Chase Headley at third.

Jul 8, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Stephen Drew (14) rounds first base after hitting a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees defeated the Athletics 5 – 4. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Much of the same can be said of Brendan Ryan. But, his glove is a bit slicker, and he is not going to give you many home runs. Ryan has a lifetime batting average of .234 with 19 career home runs.

Ryan has always displayed superb defense and is a sabermetric darling who was the 2012 Fielding Bible winner as shortstop (an award given to the overall best defender). Ryan can also play shortstop, second base, third base, and has even played first base at times. So, his utility flexibility is arguably slightly more valuable than Drew’s.

As for the platoon possibilities, keeping Ryan allows for a platoon with SS Gregorius, but makes little sense as a platoon for Refsnyder since they are both right-handed. It wouldn’t hurt to have another right-handed bat in a lineup that skews to the left.

From a baseball perspective there isn’t an obvious choice between Drew and Ryan. The big question mark here is health. Specifically Ryan’s health as Drew has been healthy all season. We are in the middle of the All-Star break and Ryan has only played in a mere six games.

He has missed time with a back injury (a thoracic strain), a strained calf, strained hamstring, and missed some minor league starts due to heat exhaustion. This season he has been somewhat fragile. One of Ryan’s greatest assets is he can play defense for all the infield positions, obviously, he can’t do this if he is injured.

For now, the roster has enough room for both. Financially there is not much difference, either. Drew makes $5 this season, and Ryan $2.5million. So, the salary is not really a factor. But when Carlos Beltran comes back someone will have to go. Considering that most fans might want to bid farewell to both, it is a tough decision. A healthy Ryan would be a great asset, but Drew may be the one who keeps his spot thanks to his occasional power and his consistent health.

What do you think? Who would you pick? Ryan or Drew? Let us know in the comments below.

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