With the Yankees current roster playing great baseball, GM Brian Cashman should consider trading injury-prone first baseman Greg Bird while he’s still healthy.
Yankees first baseman Greg Bird, 25, came up to the big leagues in 2015 and since then has managed to play in just 94 games or 304 at-bats — while hitting .227/.316/.477 with 20 home runs, 59 RBI and a .793 OPS.
Even Bird’s postseason numbers are nothing to get excited about: 14 games with a .250 batting average, one homer and two RBI in 44 plate appearances. These are certainly not Hall of Fame numbers, which what social media would have you believe Bird is destined for.
Bird was injured for the entire 2016 season and most of 2017, so why are the Yankees so in love with him? Yes, he bats left-handed, we get that. And the idea of a left-handed power stick in the lineup has the organization mesmerized.
However, it is very dangerous to tinker with a clubhouse that is winning like the Yankees currently are. Everyone is producing and I do mean everyone. The introduction of Bird to this lineup, a guy who has proven little outside a seventh-inning home run in Game 3 of last year’s ALDS, is dangerous.
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The Yankees are already feeling the effects of a roster crunch with Clint Frazier and more significantly, Brandon Drury, a starting infielder in the majors for the past two years with the Diamondbacks. The latter was brought over to play third base this season and beyond.
Yet Drury lost his job to Miguel Andujar when he went to the DL with blurred vision and headaches. To be fair, it is his own fault for keeping the problem hidden for years instead of treating it.
Seven days ago, Lindsay Adler of The Athletic reported that Drury was deemed fully healthy, so Drury’s health can no longer be used as an excuse to his minor league setting.
The Yankees have a proven MLB player sitting in the minors in Drury — and sending down Tyler Austin to join him would do nothing to help either talented infielder.
The Yankees need starting pitching. The cracks are showing and their chances to win a World Series will depend on viable arms that can eat up essential innings. Aside from Luis Severino, everyone has been inconsistent, including veteran left-hander C.C. Sabathia in his last two starts.
Seattle will have a hard time making the playoffs without Robinson Cano for much of the season, so perhaps Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto will use this opportunity to rebuild his ballclub. The M’s have one of the worst farm systems in baseball, with little in regards to prospects to either rebuild around or offer in a trade.
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Brian Cashman needs to make a deal to get a quality starting pitcher and relieve the roster crunch — and maybe Greg Bird is the key to doing so. Trading Bird and Drury to Seattle might get James Paxton. I for one can’t stomach the idea of another lengthy rehab assignment from Bird the next time he injures himself.