New York Yankees allegedly have major league outfield on Saturday

The New York Yankees are not the team they had once been. The Bronx Bombers are no more, as injuries, age, and ineffectiveness have made the lineup almost unrecognizable. The old line of not being able to tell the players without a program is certainly applicable.

That was the case on Saturday night. The Yankees trotted out a starting outfield that, aside from Brett Gardner, would be unrecognizable by even the most ardent fans.

New York Yankees “major league” outfield

This is what happens when five outfielders are on the Injured List and Giancarlo Stanton‘s own injury tendencies have relegated him to a designated hitter role. Other options have been traded away or retired. Tin Locastro, who had been acquired due to a lack of outfield depth, started the game but left due to a torn ACL and is gone for the year.

As such, the Yankees are forced to send out the corpse of a once competent outfielder, a utility man, and Triple-A depth in a desperate attempt to field a roster. There were questions about bringing Gardner back in the first place, and his .190/.305/.297 batting line in 237 plate appearances entering Saturday has made those questions even louder.

Yet, Gardner’s 69 OPS+ is an upgrade over what Tyler Wade has done at the plate. Despite appearing in 53 games, he had just 57 plate appearances as he is clearly valued for his glove. A .226/.281/.283 batting line certainly has not changed that perception. Greg Allen? He had a hit entering Saturday, in his one plate appearance for the Yankees.

In the end, the Yankees managed to defeat the Red Sox for the first time this season, winning 3-1 on Saturday. That outfield was 1-8 with a walk and a run scored, striking out four times. Perhaps it is no surprise that Allen was the player to get that lone hit and score the run.

The New York Yankees had three outfielders on the diamond on Saturday. Whether or not this was a major league outfield is subject to interpretation.