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Breaking Down the Platoon Options for the 2017 Yankees Lineup

By Evan Halpine-Berger

Sep 8, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin (26) hits a walk off home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 8, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin (26) hits a walk off home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 21, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird (31) reacts to a hit during the seventh inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Toronto Blue Jays won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird (31) reacts to a hit during the seventh inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Toronto Blue Jays won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

First Base

Both Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi have already said publicly that the team expects the 2017 first base job to be decided by a spring training competition between Greg Bird and Tyler Austin.

If he’s healthy, Bird is the clear favorite after his electric performance in the second half of 2015 when he hit .261/.343/.529 (135 OPS+) with 11 home runs and 31 RBI in 178 PA.

Austin has more to prove at the big league level after hitting .241/.300/.458 (99 OPS+) with five home runs during his first taste of the big leagues. He struggled mightily at times, but did show the ability to break out and put on impressive power displays at time. He finished the year strong by going 6-for-12 with two homers.

This seems like the Yankees best opportunity for a straight platoon. The lefty Bird would see the majority of the playing time, but would be eased back into big league life as a semi-part time player after missing the 2016 season with shoulder surgery.

Bird had a clear platoon split in his admittedly small 2015 sample, with a .915 OPS against RHP and .752 against LHP. Looking at Austin’s minor league work this year, he also has a slight split, with a .880 OPS against RHP and a .909 against LHP.

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