Yankees still have three big roster moves to make this spring

Luke Voit vs. Greg Bird

This is the battle that most Yankees fans are really watching closely. Voit finished last season on a tear, but Bird is a guy the organization continues to have high hopes for. Each first baseman has enjoyed a good start to Spring Training at the plate.

Bird also has the advantage of being the superior defender. Voit is working on that side of his game, but he doesn’t have the natural athleticism to ever become a plus defensive player. The majority of his value will always come with the bat in his hands.

This one can still go either way. Yankees officials seem intent on sending the loser to the minors, but we’re skeptical of that plan if both continue to pound the baseball at the current clip. Sending Voit down would be tough given his value to the team down the stretch last year, and sending a potential left-handed slugger down would really tie Boone’s hands against talented right-handed pitchers.

We’re still going with Voit here. Bird’s enjoyed some early success with the bat, but we’re projecting him to regress to the mean as his number of at bats starts to rise. Voit’s confidence and bravado give him a substantial edge over Bird. That should be enough to power him to become the team’s starting first baseman in 2019.