Yankees Third Basemen Chase Headley is Stephen Drew 2.0

The Yankees, more so than any position, will have their eyes fixed on third base this season. Other positions may be up for grabs going into spring training and the season, but nowhere on the diamond are Yankee fans clamoring more for a position change than at third base.

Of all the Yankees arriving at George M. Steinbrenner Field for spring training, Chase Headley arguably has the most to prove. Headley has looked eerily familiar to another infamous past Yankee infielder, Stephen Drew. No positive association exists when it comes to that name. It’s more reminiscent of the obscenities Yankee fans would yell at their television screens for the two seasons Drew wore the pinstripes.

At times it was excruciating watching Drew, a proclaimed genius with the glove, kick balls in the infield throw balls away and consistently end rallies grounding into double plays. In 2014 Drew hit for the lowest batting average of his career, a well below the Mendoza line .150. Yankees starting third baseman Chase Headley was only .003 points off of matching his career low batting average in 2016. Starting to see double yet?

THE MIND OF THE CASH-MAN

Let’s take it a step further and ask what brought these players to Yankees GM Brain Cashman’s attention in the first place. Cashman obviously has high regard for the breakout season. Even if the player has not shown an indication he can replicate that year since he believes in the power of the uniform.

Cashman went into negotiation deals assuming his club was acquiring the 2008 Stephen Drew in 2014, and the 2012 Chase Headley in 2017. This dangerous assumption has led to Drew 2.0, but the sequel features him at the hot corner this go round and under the alias “Headley.”

Usually, players receive contracts based on what they did the prior season to free agency, but not when dealing with the Yankees GM. Cashman must have loved his baseball cards when he was a child, because he pays close attention to past stats, often forgoing the recent variety.

Nowhere on the diamond are Yankee fans clamoring more for a position change than at third base.

Stephen Drew did have an impressive 2008 with 21 home runs and a .291 batting average. Since playing in the American League, the best he has hit is .253 in a season with Boston and 17 home runs in dimension friendly Yankee Stadium.

In 2012 Chase Headley finished fifth in MVP voting and won his first and only Silver Slugger Award for the San Diego Padres. Headley belted 31 home runs 115 RBI with a .286 average. San Diego didn’t feel the need to reward him for the effort, but Cashman felt he compelled to do so in New York.

During the 2014 trade deadline, Headley was brought to the Bronx and was given a new contract the following offseason after only 58 games played for the Yankees. Again, Cashman couldn’t have been looking at the combined batting average between New York and San Diego of .243 and 13 home runs that season during negotiations right?

HEADLEY HAS TO HIT TO KEEP HIS JOB

Headley’s glove may be his saving grace in New York. Although Headley led all of Major League Baseball in errors committed by third basemen in 2015, he has put that behind him and returned to a top five player defensively last season. Chase finished fourth in range and assists for the corner spot in the American League and fifth in overall fielding percentage.

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The question is, however, if his solid glove is enough to keep Headley at third base in 2017, and for how long? Many would argue last season Ronald Torreyes; an MLB journeyman was the better option at third. All due respect to Torreyes, but if he is the best choice Brian Cashman needs to be on the phone finding options.

How long must Yankee fans hear the speech about the recycled veteran who had one career year and is now expected to repeat once they put into Yankee Stadium? If Miguel Andujar, a prospect who played at double-A Trenton last year wants to exert pressure on the organization he needs an impressive spring.

CASHMAN PLAYS FAVORITES WITH “HIS” GUYS

According to a recent interview with WFAN’s Mike Francesa Cashman quickly downplayed any possibility of replacing Headley at third. Francesa asked the Yankee GM point-blank is it Chase Headley’s job even after starting last season with one RBI in 100 plate appearances. Cashman did all but guarantee to see the Stephen Drew hologram for most of 2017 saying no one will challenge Chase at third base.

Cashman went even further excusing and defending the horrific start to Headley’s season. Cliche’s like New York is a tough town to play in, he turned things around, and his above average glove was thrown around. Then rapidly the real reason became apparent after Francesa asked and Cashman affirmed, Headley, is one of “his guys.”

Stephen Drew was another one of Cashman’s “guys.” The player who he let Robinson Cano walk away for, because you know, Cano wasn’t a Cashman guy. Not sure exactly what is the criteria to be a Cashman guy, but it seems to involve underachievement.

Chase Headley is far from his 31 home run and 100+ RBI version of third basemen. Would Cashman put the organization through another one of Headley’s all time slow starts? If Headley were to stay around 15 home runs with an average of .270+ and play top 5 defense again, it could keep replacement off his back. It is however pretty hard to for anyone not named Brian Cashman to expect that outcome.

More so than any position, all eyes will be fixed on third base this season. Other positions may be up for grabs going into spring training and the season, but nowhere on the diamond are Yankee fans clamoring more for a position change than at third base.

Miguel Andujar, moving Starlin Castro to third base, or Ronald Torreyes are all in-house options to Headley’s struggles. Cashman cannot put Yankee fans and players through another Stephen Drew experience. Headley played his way out of his starting job last year, so it’s up to Brian Cashman to know when to pull the plug this time.

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On June 1^st the vision for the third base should be crystal clear for the stretch run. A run that hopefully involves a pennant or wild card race, and isn’t held back by a struggling recycled veteran who’s been put into the “Cashman guys” category.