The many possibilities of a Yankees batting order in 2018

I like my order best

With two months to go until spring training begins, and some actual semblance of Boone’s opening day lineup coming to fruition, both Max Axisa of CBS Sports and Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media, took a stab at a possible Bombers’ batting order.

Axisa: 1. Brett Gardner CF; 2. Aaron Judge LF; 3. Giancarlo Stanton RF; 4. Gary Sanchez C; 5. Greg Bird 1B; 6. Didi Gregorius SS; 7. Aaron Hicks DH; 8. Chase Headley 3B; 9. Ronald Torreyes 2B (or someone else)

Kuty: 1. Brett Gardner LF; 2. Aaron Judge RF; 3. Giancarlo Stanton DH; 4. Gary Sanchez C; 5. Greg Bird 1B; 6. Didi Gregorius SS; 7. Chase Headley 3B; 8. Aaron Hicks CF; 9. Ronald Torreyes/Tyler Wade 2B.

As for me, Mike Calendrillo, your humble site expert here at Yanks Go Yard, this is my ideal team:

1. Brett Gardner CF; 2. Aaron Hicks DH; 3. Aaron Judge LF; 4. Giancarlo Stanton RF; 5. Gary Sanchez C; 6. Didi Gregorius SS; 7. Greg Bird 1B; 8. Chase Headley 3B; 9. Gleyber Torres 2B.

Apparently, the only prototypical leadoff hitter in the bunch is still Gardner. Even at 34, Gardy will continue to work the count, potentially taking a bit of starch out of the man in the hill, all the while giving himself in an excellent opportunity to get on base.

Gardner’s 72 walks in ’17 were second-best on the club to Judge, while being the lead dog in stolen bases with 23 (Jacoby Ellsbury finished second with 22 — I know, hard to believe).

Meat of the order

Batting second, I like Hicks because he’s a switch-hitter, which is an enormous advantage later in games when opposing managers tend to matchup shooters according to handedness.

Hicks, who at 28 is just now entering the prime of his career, is even-keeled when it comes to strikeouts vs. walks (67:51 ratio in ’17). He can also drive the ball to both gaps and is an incredible baserunner that will allow for many hit and run situations.

Judge belongs in the three-hole. This is the spot where your best hitter typically resides. Before you yell at me that Judge isn’t the Yankees’ “best hitter,” just because of his strikeout totals; beware, much more than K’s needs to be evaluated.

We already know about his prodigious power, the high-walk totals and stellar OBP and slugging percentage. But what about Judge’s 340 total bases last season? His 5.8 adjusted batting wins, .781 offensive win percentage or 79 extra base hits? I could go on, or you could just familiarize yourself with some of Judge’s other ’17 out of this world stats.

Judge quite often found himself in the No. 2 slot in Joe Girardi’s offense; however, the primary job of this position in the lineup has always been to advance a runner by hitting the ball to the other side (a la Derek Jeter). Though Judge has shown extraordinary opposite field power, it’s still power. The man is no inside-out slap hitter.

The old baseball adage that you want your best hitters to get up to the plate more often than your weaker hitters still hold true, but my goal would be to stretch out the power bats from 1-through-9 — not bunch them up at the very top.

Besides, with Giancarlo Stanton as your cleanup hitter, who’s pitching around Judge? No one, just like you’re not working around Stanton, to get to Sanchez.

Bumping down El Gary a peg should alleviate some pressure on his offensive efforts, that hopefully translate to more of a focus behind the dish. Other than that directive, there isn’t a whole lot to ask from Stanton and Sanchez, except, do what you do best.

The bottom part is no slouch

I love Didi Gregorius batting sixth in this lineup. Inserting a left-handed stick after three straight righties is a must. One that hits to all fields with precision is a bonus.

Coming off a .287 average, 25 homers, 87 RBI campaign, there’s arguably no better six-hole hitter in the majors. A traditional run-scoring spot, hitting sixth will allow Didi to advance his power surge further, while not worrying so much about his career .266 average (.277 BA in ’17).

If Aaron Hicks were to struggle in the two spot or once again go down with a rash of oblique injuries, moving Gregorius up is an option. I just didn’t want that to be my go-to because I’m not a fan of having back-to-back left-handed hitters up on top — especially when a southpaw is on the hill.

Batting seventh, Greg Bird is the wild card. He has all the style and skill to hit anywhere from three through six, but the consistency in his at-bats is still lacking.

Should Bird flash signs of what he did last spring training or moments of revelation during parts of the postseason, manager Aaron Boone might seriously consider moving him in between Stanton and Sanchez, as a way to further disrupt pitching staffs. But not until then.

Chase Headley comes in at number eight. Following a productive season (.273 BA, 12 HR and 63 RBI) and an even better postseason, albeit in limited appearances (7-for-18, .389 BA in the ALCS), Headley will have a lot to prove going into his final season with the Yankees.

Many, including myself, believe that Headley is merely keeping the hot corner warm for No. 5 prospect Miguel Andujar.

Until Andujar is ready to roll at the big league level, which could come at the first sign of an extended Headley slump, the switch-hitter will add some timely hitting before the lineup turns over.

Flexibility presents itself

Rounding out the order is rookie sensation Gleyber Torres; or Ronald Torreyes; or Tyler Wade.

If Torres proves he is fully-healed from last June’s Tommy John surgery, and his raw power returns with a vengeance — then expect the 20-year-old top prospect to make the day roster.

Should Torres need more time to catch up to full-time game speed (say, until June), Aaron Boone can platoon Torreyes and Wade, depending on the opposing pitcher, who’s currently streaking or which guy’s defense makes more of a difference.

Barring any trades, the bench could include Jacoby Ellsbury, Austin Romine, Wade/Torreyes and Tyler Austin or Billy McKinney.

Ellsbury is officially the world’s most expensive fifth outfielder/pinch runner. Without flat-out releasing him, therefore eating the remaining $63 million on his contract, I’m not sure how the organization can free up his 25-man roster spot.

Austin Romine is a fine defensive catcher. The problem is that he gives you nothing with the stick. I had hopes that the Yankees would go out and make an offer to free agent catcher Alex Avila. But that was before the Stanton trade.

Keeping one more power bat/first base option on the bench is also likely until Bird further establishes himself. Between McKinney and Austin, two former top prospects, it’s a toss-up.

Austin has 123 career big league at-bats where he has displayed some serious power. The 26-year-old, Austin, is also very good around the bag. Aside from being another right-handed bat, his propensity for the almighty K has always been an issue.

McKinney has re-emerged as a prospect worth talking about since his trade from the Cubs organization to the Yanks’. Perhaps his biggest advantage over Austin, besides from being three years younger, is that he’s left-handed, which is something the team could certainly use more of.

Next: Here's why Stanton to the Yanks works

An outfielder by trade, McKinney spent time at first base during the most recent Arizona Fall League. Though he’s still learning the nuances of the position, McKinney is said to have exceeded expectations, showing signs of a natural fit.