Fansided

5 questions the Yankees must answer in spring training

By Rucker Haringey

Bronx, N.Y.: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees pitches in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium on October 9, 2018 in the Bronx, New York (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Newsday via Getty Images)
Bronx, N.Y.: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees pitches in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium on October 9, 2018 in the Bronx, New York (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Newsday via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 3: Luke Voit #45 of the New York Yankees celebrates after scoring a run during the American League Wild Card game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 3: Luke Voit #45 of the New York Yankees celebrates after scoring a run during the American League Wild Card game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

2. Who will win the first base job?

No one outside the Yankees front office saw Luke Voit coming last year. He managed to give his ball club a massive boost by hitting .333 with 14 home runs in 39 games down the stretch. Voit’s ascendancy came just as Greg Bird’s season endured some of its worst moments.

Now the two players are set to battle things out in Spring Training for the starting job at first base. It’s pretty obvious that quite a few people inside the front office want to see Bird win the duel. The team could certainly benefit from having a power hitting left-hander in the lineup on a daily basis. Bird is also the better defender of the two.

That doesn’t mean anyone is going to hand the job over to Bird. If he wants to earn meaningful at bats he’s going to have to earn them. He cannot afford to hit .199 in Spring Training as he did in 311 plate appearances last year. If Bird doesn’t get off to a hot start this spring, he could lose his chance to stay with the Yankees long-term.

Voit isn’t a lock to be an above average major leaguer either. He was excellent after arriving in the Bronx last year, but it’s possible Voit was just a flash in the pan. Don’t be shocked if the team’s starting first baseman in October isn’t on the roster when spring training begins.

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