What About Chris?

As Spring Training winds down with a lot of cuts already being made, there aren’t a lot of questions to be asked about the Opening Day lineup. All in all, Spring Training has been a pleasant surprise for all of us.

I tend to not read too much into the spring season stats but, there are a few that seem promising. Greg Bird, Matt Holliday, Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez are all guys that have had a very solid spring.

Kids such as Gleyber Torres, Tyler Wade, Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar have all looked very good. Not to mention the surprise of Jordan Montgomery!

There of course, is the usual questions about the starting pitchers that have been there for quite awhile now too. But there is also a question about 1 particular signing that is split down the middle among Yankee fans. What about Chris Carter?

This article from NJ.com seems to think that he might be the odd man out.

“Not long after Chris Carter — and everybody else — learned Greg Bird would be the Yankees starting first baseman on Opening Day, Carter admitted things have been difficult for him this spring.”

With the horrendous spring Carter has put together, there just seems to be no need for his services. That’s the bottom line. Yeah, he could be the backup first baseman until Tyler Austin returns. He might get some turns at DH or pinch-hitting duty. That of course is why we signed the guy. His home runs he could provide some hope, but to be honest, it would be better if they didn’t come in-between 20 strikeouts. Are those services worth the $3.5 million he was signed for or as Jeana Bellezza asked about 3 weeks back, Was signing Chris Carter a waste of money?  Look, if this keeps up, the Yankees are going to have a problem here. They gave Carter a $3.5 million, one-year contract in the offseason — what seemed like a bargain at the time for a powerful right-handed bat who could platoon.

Now, I’m the last one to ask about contracts and all the fine print. I don’t know shit about any of that. Do they pay him all that money to make sure all the guys get their Gatorade as they come off the field? Maybe grab a bat once in awhile in between, making sure there are enough sunflower seeds to go around? Do they just simply cut bait and release him? Do they try and see what they can get for him on the trade market? I know, I’m half joking here, but I’m half serious too. Many questions, all I can say is ‘I don’t know’. What to you think will or should happen?

–Michael Carnesi
BYB Writer