Will the Yankees Let Alex Rodriguez Play First Base?

The message from the Yankees front office concerning Alex Rodriguez this offseason has been clear: the 40-year-old slugger will be the team’s everyday designated hitter.

However, according to Brendan Kuty of NJ.com, Rodriguez’s position could come into question.

“Whether Alex Rodriguez should try playing first base for the Yankees was a question that never went away in 2015,” Kuty said. “And it’s bound to come back in spring training.“

Last season, Rodriguez started 135 games as the Bronx Bombers’ DH. He appeared in the field just six times, four times at third base and twice at first base.

While playing the field may seem farfetched at this point in his career, the Yankees could find themselves having to rely on A-Rod’s glove in 2016.

Losing Greg Bird to a season-ending shoulder injury will surely affect the Yankees in a number of ways. The most immediate of which is the backup first baseman position.

Without Bird, the Yankees find themselves without a competent replacement for Mark Teixeira at first base.

That’s where Rodriguez comes in. The Yankees should give him an opportunity to play first base.

Like Rodriguez, Teixeira will also see significant time at DH next season.

Teixeira’s 2015 campaign was cut short by injury. There is no doubt Joe Girardi will use the DH spot to keep the 35-year-old as healthy as possible.

When Teixeira assumes the role of DH, the Yankees are left with very few, if any, quality options at first base.

Brian McCann played first base in 10 games last season. Dustin Ackley played first base in only four games in 2015.

Why not give Rodriguez a shot?

From an offensive standpoint, having Rodriguez play first base makes sense.

Rodriguez is a much bigger offensive threat than Ackley. Having A-Rod at first and Teixeira as the DH would allow the Yankees to trot out a more potent offensive lineup.

Additionally, the Yankees offense is powered by home runs. Keeping Rodriguez and Teixeira in the lineup together greatly increases the team’s home run potential.

Letting Rodriguez play first base also allows the Yankees to keep a more natural defensive alignment.

With Rodriguez at first and Teixeira at DH, the Yankees would be able to keep McCann behind the plate. This not only is more comfortable for McCann, but also for the Yankees’ pitching staff.

McCann has developed a great rapport with a number of the team’s pitchers. If the Yankees were to put him at first base, the pitching staff would be forced to throw to a catcher who they may not be as comfortable with as McCann.

Starting pitching does not look like it will be a strength of the 2016 Yankees. Without McCann behind the dish, the Bronx Bombers could see their starting arms struggle even more than many people already expect them to.

On the other hand, Rodriguez has not looked particularly graceful in his brief time at first base.

His footwork is choppy at best and he makes routine plays look difficult. Rodriguez’s defensive prowess at shortstop and third base hasn’t really translated to first base.

Teaching Rodriguez the ins and outs of first base could also prove to be an impossible task. Especially considering Opening Day is just over two months away.

Despite his defensive flaws, it would be smart of the Yankees to give Rodriguez a shot at first base. Even though Rodriguez has not spent much time at the position, letting him play first base will give the Yankees better offensive opportunities and allow for the most logical defensive alignment.

Last season, Rodriguez seemed willing to do whatever he needed to in order to make the Yankees more successful. The Yankees can be successful in 2016 if they give A-Rod an opportunity at first base.