New York Yankees: Is Greg Bird the answer at first base?

The New York Yankees were one game away from the World Series, so there may not be many changes to the roster this season. But looking forward, does the front office believe Greg Bird is the franchise’s first baseman?

Don Mattingly. Lou Gehrig. Mark Teixeira.

Greg Bird?

There aren’t a load of question marks hanging over the New York Yankees upcoming season, but one regards its corner infielders. Todd Frazier probably isn’t the answer in the hot corner, but with Manny Machado available next season, general manager Brian Cashman likely won’t spend big money on the position this winter.

But first base is a much more complex situation. After a short stint in the majors in 2015, fans labeled Bird as the next big thing in the Bronx. Yankees fans bought into the fact that he could occupy the position for a while. After Texeira’s departure and Bird’s power put on display, it seemed like a valid point.

Now, after suffering a season-long injury last year and a disappointing 2017 campaign, fans may be skeptical. The fact that there is a great option at first base on the market this offseason just complicates the situation. Who wouldn’t want Eric Hosmer on their squad?

For now, Cashman believes the organization has made its mind in regards to that. But that could change quickly, now that Cashman has become unpredictable during the regular season.

Bird wasn’t stellar in the minor leagues but displayed enough power and plate discipline to remain relevant. In 2014, he started to separate himself from other first base prospects, thriving in Double-A that year. By 2015, he sported dominant numbers in Triple-A in time to get the call to the MLB.

Unlike many of the other players that initially strikeout nearly every at-bat, Bird drew walks. Across Double-A and Triple-A, the lefty compiled 35 walks compared to 57 strikeouts. His splits in the MLB aren’t as shiny, but he’s done a much better job than some young players – Aaron Judge – in not falling for deceiving pitches.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

Analysts used Bird’s stellar Spring Training to predict how impactful the first baseman would be for a rebuilding Yankees squad. Ironically, Bird played in just 48 regular season games while New York was one game away from qualifying for the World Series.

And when Bird was in the game, he didn’t execute a similar hitting plan to whatever it was in spring. The left-handed dinger swinger managed to post a poor .190 average. On the bright side, more than half of his hits were for extra bases.

Still, for a guy that was promoted as the answer at first base, fans might have expected more from Bird.

He still offers promise for the team. In the postseason, he single-handedly kept New York in the ALDS by crushing a home run off of former Yank Andrew Miller. Against the Astros, he notched five hits in 20 at-bats, but contributed a bomb and a pair of doubles.

Sure, Bird can be much better, but he’s still young and coming off a lingering injury. That might be his best argument for remaining the top option at his position.

There aren’t many other options when looking at the roster, with Tyler Austin struggling. Former manager Joe Girardi did toss in Garrett Cooper to solve the problem, but he wasn’t given a chance to prove himself.

Austin might be the first one off the list, mostly because Cooper was so dominant in the minor leagues. But it’s still Bird’s job to lose at this point – at least until New York finds a better option.

Next: Should the Yankees bring back Pineda?

The only free agent contending for his position is Hosmer. Yonder Alonso and Danny Valencia are available, and both have experience at first, but they’re not reliable moving forward. Alonso was a force in the first half of 2017, but when he was dealt to Seattle, he struggled.

Bird still has time to demonstrate his value, and Cashman believes he fits the bill. But time may be running out on the 25-year-old, especially if he can’t stay healthy.