Yankees Chris Carter Can Get Comfy on the Bench

When it comes to spring training numbers and performance everything must be taken with a grain of salt. One thing is for sure so far in the young 2017 season for the New York Yankees, the need for Chris Carter was extremely over blown.

Yankees fans, have you noticed that a simple scroll through your Twitter feeds the day of the Chris Carter acquisition would have painted a much different impression of Chris Carter. Things like “NL home run king, imagine how he will hit with dimensions of Yankee Stadium, and he will split time with Greg Bird” were thrown out.

Carter has always been known as an all-or-nothing player. So far as a Yankee Carter has been the latter and has yet to hit the ball effectively at all in Tampa.

Would you like to apologize to Greg Bird for your offensive jovial attitude toward taking away some of his at-bats and playing time?          If you don’t feel the need to, here’s the old Grandma guilt trip. Take a glance at Carter’s numbers so far this spring.

Yankees Chris is No Sean Carter In New York

In 47 at-bats which are tied for 4^th most of any Yankee this spring, last year’s leader in National League home runs has exactly one. Carter has only three RBI in his 18 games played and has struck out a whopping 25 times.

With his .128 batting average (worst of any Yankee at spring training), Carter has fixed himself into the role experts said would be his “at worst” position on the team. The role was projected as a fill-in DH, first basemen, and a pinch hitter. At this point however it was difficult to imagine Carter filling any of those roles better than other options within the organization.

More from Yanks Go Yard

• Yankees State of the Farm System Review: Josh Breaux
• Yankees make upside play, sign former Rangers top prospect outfielder
• MLB insider claims favorite emerging in Bryan Reynolds rumors (not Yankees)
• Michael Kay’s Anthony Volpe story will get Yankees fans amped for Opening Day
• No, Yankees should not acquire Trevor Bauer for 2023

Carter has always been known as an all-or-nothing player. So far as a Yankee Carter has been the latter and has yet to hit the ball effectively at all in Tampa. Magnifying his terrible performance is the emergence of star first basemen Greg Bird. Bird has outperformed Carter in the pseudo-competition Brian Cashman envisioned.

Yankees May Need to Look into Different Insurance Options

The insurance policy Chris Carter was supposed to provide is suspect. Aaron Hicks should be the first option off the bench for his speed and upside at the plate. Unless watching someone strike out in multiple at-bats every game is your thing, then by all means, call on Carter.

Bird’s health has been the biggest factor in what will eventually be Carter’s seat groove on the Yankee bench. Between Matt Holliday and Greg Bird, Carter will have the best seat in the house for much of the season near Manager Joe Girardi.

Chris Carter could still fully live up to his expectations this season and deliver clutch home runs. He may even provide some needed days off for everyday players and fill in should there be injuries.

Yankees Need to Sort Out the 40-man Roster Mess

The Yankees have 'til Sunday to finalize their roster. But with 10 more players to cut, the balance of the 40-man roster is now a point of contention.

If Carter plays like he has in spring training this year, however, he is a help to nobody. Especially when matched against the likes of Greg Bird, Matt Holliday, and Aaron Hicks.