Yankees: Chris Carter Is Clogging Up More Than The Basepaths

When the Yankees decided to sign Chris Carter on the cheap to a one-year deal, the move was hailed as “good thinking” on the part of Brian Cashman. But now, as Spring Training moves along, it’s looking more and more like Carter is clogging up the pipeline.

Yankees first baseman, Chris Carter, is not going to hit 41 home runs again this year if he’s not going to play. And he’s not going to play because Greg Bird is going to start 155 games for the team in 2017. I know, assuming he’s healthy. But, Bird is healthy, and the job belongs to him as long as he stays that way.

This means that if Carter is going to get any playing time at all, he’s going to have to do it as a DH. But Gary Sanchez has a hold on that job two days a week when he’s not catching. And Matt Holliday (remember him?) has a hold on the job the rest of the time when he’s not giving Greg Bird a breather here and there at first base.

If the Yankees indeed are are entertaining offers for Refsnyder, there should be some discussion about which player, Carter or Refsnyder, is more valuable to the team

So, why do the Yankees need Chris Carter? Holliday will hit .300 with some juice in his bat. Chris Carter will hit .200 with some juice in his bat. Matt Holliday will strike out 70 times in 400 at-bats, while Carter will strike out 200 times in 500 at-bats (last year’s stats).

And even if Greg Bird wrenches his back getting out of his car, Holliday can do more than an adequate job of filling in at first base. Or for that matter, so can Rob Refsnyder (remember him?). That  Refsnyder can also play second, third, and the outfield, while Carter is relegated to only one position in the field.

The deal that brought Carter to the Yankees has already outlived its time. Arguably, it was a good signing back then when the Yankees needed an insurance policy on Bird, even though at the time they already had one in Holliday.

And let’s remember something else about Carter. The Yankees were the last team in line for his services when they signed him as a free agent. Twenty-nine other teams passed on him.

The issue about Carter claiming a spot on the 25-man roster is relevant and, most of all, timely. Because if the Yankees indeed are are entertaining offers for Refsnyder, there should be some discussion about which player, Carter or Refsnyder, is more valuable to the team.

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Making a choice between the two should be a no-brainer, except for the fact that Refsnyder has more trade value than Carter. Which, in turn, tells you another thing about Carter. And beyond what each can contribute to this Yankees team, or any other team for that matter, is the issue of money. Carter will earn six times more than Refsnyder, who is making just above the major league minimum, this season.

No question about it, the Yankees have dug themselves a deep hole, and Brian Cashman has to be the man to dig the team out of it. If the rumors about Refsnyder are right, then he’s already made a decision as to how he’s going to do it. But Refsnyder is not one of those players on the team who can be categorized as “expendable.” Chris Carter is.

The problem that Cashman faces, though, is that Carter is unwanted, meaning that the Yankees would have to release him and not get anything in return for him. Plus, they would need to eat his $3 million. Yes, yes, it always comes down to money.

Yankees: Four Takeaways From Spring Training 2017 So Far

Already, we've seen enough of the Yankees in Spring Training to reach some conclusions about the state of the team and its players.

Trading Refsnyder would signal one thing at this point. Cashman is taking the easy way out and kicking the can down the road when it comes to Carter. When instead, he could make the wise baseball decision and do what’s best for the team on the field.