Earlier this week the New York Yankees sent first baseman Mark Teixeira back to New York to undergo more tests on his bruised right shin, which is "not getting better," according to manager Joe Girardi. As a result, rumors have surfaced regarding Alex Rodriguez getting some reps at first base.
Rookie Greg Bird has filled in during Teixeira's absence and is batting .237/.313/.373 with 10 runs scored, 2 home runs and 10 RBIs in 17 games. His MLB debut has been solid, but Girardi thinks the team has to consider other scenarios as the team enters the final month of the season.
"I think you have to really talk about it now," Girardi said of A-Rod playing first base, via George A. King III of the New York Post. "Because I think our hope was that, when we left on that road trip [last week], you would have Tex back by the time we got home [Friday], or even on the road trip. But now, I think you have to think about it because you're going to see left-handers. There's left-handers in our division. There's a lot of division opponents in the last 32 games or whatever we have left. I think you have to start debating the idea."
However, general manager Brian Cashman blatantly disagrees with Girardi.
"I don't think he can play first base," Cashman countered.
"I would prefer to protect Alex and utilize other choices, but, that's from the GM's seat," Cashman told Roger Rubin of the New York Daily News. "From Joe's seat, it's understandable and makes sense, you try to find your flexibility and try to find where your liabilities are. Alex is a huge bat ... I just don't think we can, personally."
He also said it's "something you don't want to see."
Girardi said the two will talk about the potential scenario, but the move seems unlikely to be executed this late in the season. New York needs to maximize their efficiency in the final month of 2015 as they endure a tight AL East race with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Rodriguez, 40, played his first two career games at first base this year and has played a total of six games in the field, which makes sense as to why Cashman is already downplaying the idea. Girardi also mentioned Brendan Ryan is an option to fill in at first, but the Yankees need to find a balance between reliable defense and efficient offense.
Ryan is batting .214/.257/.343 with eight runs scored and seven RBIs in 29 games this season.
This will be a hot topic for the Yankees, especially since they face a difficult road ahead. They trail the Blue Jays by 1.5 games in the AL East and will face them seven times this month. They also have remaining series against the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox.
In a perfect world, Bird would improve his bat and glove in the final month of the season, but the Yankees simply cannot rely on that.
