Do the Yankees have the best infield in baseball?
Neil Walker
Part of the reason Bird has continued to get so many opportunities to play first base is that Neil Walker hasn’t been any better. He’s only hitting .192 in 158 at bats. That’s well below the preseason expectations the club had for him this season.
Unlike Bird, Walker doesn’t have youth working in his favor. He’s already a 32-year-old veteran. If he can’t hold down a regular spot in Boone’s lineup, the team is much more likely to waive or trade him than to try to send him down to the minors. Walker is clearly walking a tightrope with his Yankees future at the moment.
The only reason Walker is still on the team right now is due to his positional versatility. He can credibly play 1st, 2nd and 3rd. He isn’t a plus defender at any one spot, but he’s not going to hurt the Yankees with his glove. Walker’s ability to play multiple positions adequately does improve his value as a substitute.
If Walker can’t turn things around before the All-Star break expect Brian Cashman to start scouring the trade market for an upgrade. Specifically, the team needs to get more production out of the first base position. Ronald Torreyes is more than capable of filling his role as a suber sub at the other spots in the infield. Walker needs to pick up his performance in a hurry to prolong his Yankees career.