The Yankees will be giving Isiah Kiner-Falefa some chances in center field, as the team looks to fill the void of Harrison Bader, who will start the season on the IL with an oblique strain.
Bader’s injury means that Aaron Hicks, who has been struggling at the plate when not recovering from injury for the past few years, will likely get plenty of playing time in left field to start the year.
Sal Licata says these moves by the Yanks are much more indicative of how a small market team would behave and manage roster needs, not the most iconic franchise in the sport.
“The idea that the New York Yankees, with their general manager in the offseason, one of the first things he said was they need a left fielder, they didn’t get a left fielder,” Sal said. “This after last season saying they need a shortstop, and ends up with IKF, who isn’t a shortstop.
“Now, they lose their center fielder after not getting a left fielder, and are going to take their failed shortstop and put him in center field. That’s the Yankees! That’s embarrassing! Is this the Pirates, the Royals, the Reds, or is this the Yankees? How’s this for an idea? Go get an outfielder!”
Instead, it looks like the Yanks will try and resolve the situation internally. Of course, they didn’t behave like a small market team in free agency, where they signed Aaron Judge to a $360 million deal and Carlos Rodon to a $162 million deal. But Sal says they are now acting like one of the league’s bottom feeders rather than the Evil Empire.
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