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New York Yankees should pickup first baseman James Loney

By Jordan Wevers

Mar 24, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman James Loney (21) and Tampa Bay Buccaneer quarterback Jameis Winston (3) talk prior to the game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman James Loney (21) and Tampa Bay Buccaneer quarterback Jameis Winston (3) talk prior to the game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Another injury to first baseman Mark Teixeira should not be overlooked this year by the New York Yankees. Having an apt backup ready would be ideal. Dustin Ackley is probably not the solution, but free agent James Loney could be.

In similar fashion to when corporate America blind sides an employee and lets them go with little notice, much of the same emotions probably went through James Loney‘s body on April 3 when the Tampa Bay Rays released him only hours before their Opening Day contest against AL East rivals the Toronto Blue Jays.

The veteran first baseman has been a mainstay in MLB lineups since 2006 as a 22-year-old when he appeared in 48 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers. A career .285/.338/.411 hitter, the move probably came as a surprise to more than Loney himself. Not a prototypical power hitting first baseman, Loney’s best power season came in 2007 when he went deep 15 times. However, in 2008 and 2009 he put together back-to-back 13 homer and 90 RBI seasons. Known more as a line drive gap hitter, at 31, there still should be some value left in Loney’s game.

Within the first couple innings of Tampa’s game versus Toronto on Sunday, it became apparent that Loney’s replacement Logan Morrison looked like a fish out of water at first base. He had two balls hit directly at him bounce out of his glove and was charged with the Rays only error of the game. He hasn’t incited much confidence at the dish either, having gone 0-for-6 with two strikeouts through his first two games with the club.

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    • While Loney is not a Gold Glove caliber defender at first base, he’s a strong enough candidate to start there over some other team’s current starters. Coupled with his apt defending, Loney is a player that gets on-base, doesn’t strike out in bunches (career worst was 95 Ks in 588 ABs) and comes with a reasonable price tag for 2016 at $8MM.

    There were notions of Loney being a good fit for his hometown Houston Astros, but Jon Heyman shot down any further rumors of that coming to fruition. One team that jumps out as a favorable landing spot is the New York Yankees. With Mark Teixeira‘s health forever in question and Greg Bird confirmed to miss all of 2016 due to shoulder surgery, Loney could be a nice insurance policy for the Bronx Bombers.

    Staying in the AL East would bring with it a certain comfort level for Loney as well, who has called the division home since 2012. Not only that, but historically, he has been incredible hitting in Yankee Stadium with a lifetime .385 batting average and OPS+ of 157 there in 122 at-bats since 2012.

    Jun 30, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) in the dugout during the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
    Jun 30, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) in the dugout during the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

    The Rays arguably have the best starting rotation on paper in the division entering the season. New York will be facing those arms plenty of times throughout 2016. Loney’s glove and bat would be an asset to the Yankees, but so too would his insight into breaking down the tendencies and scouting reports on former teammates like Chris Archer.

    Teixeira, who will turn 36 in six days time, has played an average 93 games per season dating back to 2012. The Yankees’ lineup is older and injury prone as it is. While Loney is on the wrong side of 30 just barely, history shows us he has been durable. Since 2008, he has played in an average of 150 games per year to go with 529 ABs on average.

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    With Dustin Ackley — a career .244/.306/.374 hitter — serving as the primary backup to Teixeira right now, there is reason for concern. The New York Yankees’ starting first baseman will miss time at some point this season, whether it be due to injury or needed rest. When that happens, the club would be much better served having James Loney in place, rather than a mediocre hitter whose more natural position is at outfielder.

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