Why The New York Yankees Can’t Afford To Trade Tyler Austin

With the offseason quickly approaching us, the Yankees will have to make a tough decision to either hold on to Tyler Austin or put him on the trade block.

This past season, the New York Yankees saw the beginning of a youth movement that seemed impossible just a few years ago. A key piece of this movement was first baseman, Tyler Austin.

The 25-year old received his call-up to the big leagues on August 13 when he made his major league debut and hit a home run in his very first at-bat. He arrived on the scene with a very slow start but was able to pick it up towards the end of the season and finish with a slash line of .241/.300/.458.

With Austin proving his worth in the major leagues, there have been talks rumbling throughout the media that he could potentially be used as a trade chip in the offseason. The return of Greg Bird from injury means that Austin will no longer be able to call first base his permanent home and may have to settle for a bench role.

Despite the feeling around many that it could make sense to trade the “Baby Bomber” , let’s take a look at why the Yankees could not afford to make such a move:

The Chemistry

More from Yankees News

• Michael Kay’s Anthony Volpe story will get Yankees fans amped for Opening Day
• No, Yankees should not acquire Trevor Bauer for 2023
• Yankees’ Marwin González replaces Red Sox LF in Japan in logical next step
• Blue Jays overpaying for Yankees trade target shows they’re trying too hard
• Aaron Judge’s influence on Carlos Rodón shows he’s more powerful than Yankees

The most important aspect to examine when constructing a baseball team is chemistry. If the players on the team are not close then it prevents them from being able to work well as a team. With Tyler Austin in the clubhouse, he completes the puzzle of guys who have traveled throughout the minor leagues together and have grown bonds throughout the years and they rose through the system.

If a piece of the “Baby Bombers” is taken away from the rest, it may create a crack in the It and the players may not be able to play out to their full potential. When looking at other teams who have brought up a group of players up together, they did not split apart the group and because of that, hey saw much success. A few examples of this could be seen in the cores of the Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, and even the Boston Red Sox.

Tyler Austin has been through it all in the Yankees organization, including being designated for assignment at the end of last season.  As years go by, the 25-year old could prove to be a key mentor in the clubhouse for upcoming rookies, but only if the club makes the right decision to keep him aboard.

Depth

It would be expected from a team like the Yankees with such a deep farm system that depth would not be an aspect to worry about, wrong. According to MLB Pipeline, out of all the Bronx Bombers’ top 30 prospects, not a single one of them is a first baseman. With Greg Bird returning from injury this upcoming season, it is unknown how much he can actually field his position and will likely need many off days to try and get back into the groove. If Austin is not on the roster, the Yankees have little to no options for a backup first baseman.

Not only could Austin play a great first base defensively, but he could also use his glove in a few other positions throughout the field. While playing in the minor leagues, the right-handed hitter played right-field as well as third-base in addition to his primary spot at first. He could be used as a coveted utility player which a spot currently taken by Rob Refsnyder, but the most versatile players… the better.

Next: These Yankees are Primed for Breakouts in 2017

The future is very bright in the Bronx and if the Yankees decide to hold put over the offseason and not trade any of their young talents this special group will begin to develop as a whole. Tyler Austin is a very special talent that should not be considered a sidekick to Greg Bird if the Yankees do decide to trade the rookie first baseman, it could prove to be a big mistake.