The Yankees are “keeping tabs on” one of the best free agents remaining on the board, first baseman Chris Carter, and have had talks with agent Dave Stewart, sources told Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Even though he co-led the National League with 41 home runs last season, the 30-year-old Carter has struggled to generate strong interest since the Brewers non-tendered him in late November. Milwaukee would have owed Carter an estimated $8.1MM in arbitration in 2017, which the club deemed too rich for the flawed slugger. Few provide more thump than Carter, who has swatted at least 24 homers in each of his four full seasons, and he also brings above-average patience, having walked in 11.6 percent of career plate appearances. However, he has posted strikeout percentages in the low-30s and contact rates in the mid-60s in each of his major league seasons, leading to an unsightly .218 batting average and a below-average .314 on-base percentage. Moreover, the lumbering Carter doesn’t offer value as either a defender or baserunner, which has made it all the more difficult for him to find work this offseason.
As a right-handed hitter, Carter would complement the Yankees’ likely starting first baseman, the lefty-swinging Greg Bird, and give the team proven insurance if the latter struggles in his first full season. The 24-year-old Bird excelled over 178 plate appearances in 2015, his rookie year, but he missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Another homegrown talent, the righty-hitting Tyler Austin, is primed to platoon with Bird, though he has only totaled 90 big league PAs and has two minor league options remaining. New York’s next best option is high-profile free agent signing Matt Holliday, but the longtime outfielder has minimal first base experience (10 games, all of which came last season) and is set to serve as the club’s designated hitter.
It’s worth noting, too, that the Yankees lack power threats outside of catcher Gary Sanchez, Holliday, Bird and unproven outfielder Aaron Judge, so picking up Carter – who paced the NL in ISO (.277) last season – would address that. The Yankees are mindful of the luxury tax, though, as Crasnick notes, which could prevent a deal from happening. As of now, Carter has several single-year offers worth $2.5MM to $3MM in hand, but he’s waiting for a more lucrative proposal to come along, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (Twitter links).
I do not buy this at all. Not legitimate interest anyways. Cashman has been pretty steadfast in using a Bird/Austin combination. They wont spend on a starter no way they spend on Carter. They’re concerned about Judge striking out too much why would they want Carter?
If he costs peanuts(in Yankee money), they could DH him and use him as an emergency 1st baseman. Easy for them to cut bait if it fails, but he adds power depth if injury or a young guy underperformance.
Welp…
It says Austin is platooning with Austin instead of platooning with Bird.
Not that it’s ideal, but you could also put Holiday in left and Carter at DH. It’s not like the Yankees have a sure-fire third outfielder… What, Judge and Hicks?
Not ideal and also not viable. Who plays right? Which noodle arm? Ellsbury or Gardner? If anything, Holiday would have to play right and then Carter would DH except when Holiday has to DH and also Sanchez and also Austin.
Hicks and Judge are RF’s. Austin can at times.
Trade Gardner.
This opens up many platoon options in
LF/RF/1b/DH.
Carter can also play LF several times a year.
But nobody wants Gardner. Same goes for Ellsbury or Headley or Hicks. Plus the Yanks have guys like Frazier, Fowler, and Williams knocking on the door.
Other than picking up an SP, the best move for the Yankees right now is to break camp with what they have and hope they can move Gardner or Ellsbury (yeah, right!) before the trade deadline.
Trade Gardner is something they explored all winter and didn’t like the value. They’re not going to trade a contributor for the sake of a year of Chris Carter in a platoon. Judge needs playing time, Ells is unmovable and Hicks, Austin, Bird, Holiday, at a minimum, all need playing time for three positions. Not to mention Mason Williams, not to mention the possibility of Frazier or Fowler or any of their plethora of OF prospects forcing their way up. Plus Sanchez DH’ing when he’s not catching, which is probable.
Yea I know Gardner won’t get much back. Maybe a #10 prospect in a decent farm.
I just want them to give the rookies time. Like Williams and Austin. I get that they don’t have immediate plans but one could surprise and maybe increase their value as a trade chip.
Lol on Ells. Maybe a move up in the batters box will allow for a miracle.
Yea but they need more power. I get we are loaded in The OF. That’s why I am suggesting to trade him. Idk if they can. I also understand Carter won’t play in The OF much. Just to give someone a day off once and a blue moon.
I agree with you. Play Austin, Bird and Williams (and Hicks deserves one more shot too). Carter is nothing more than window dressing at best and impeding on those guys playing more at worst. Anything that isn’t a long-term part of the rebuild in my mind should be avoided until at least 2018.
No Yankees just stop no no no
Why would a Dodger fan care? Dodgers don’t really have room for him. Neither do the Yankees actually.
The Rays better get him. I don’t get how the TB org can be satisfied with giving Souza a regular gig again. Guy’s made of tissue paper and spit; he makes way too many boneheaded plays/base running mistakes too. And he strikes out a ton without hitting the bombs consistently like Carter to somewhat counter that flaw.
Nice relatively cheap option. could rotate b/t 1b and DH and maybe play OF on occasion.
To do this they will have to trade someone.
Headley and Gardner are the most likely options. Gardner more so because he has several immediate replacements.
I think there may be some smoke here. Judge really didn’t look great last year, nobody is buying Austin as an NYY starting 1b and Bird looks more a high average hitter than big power and Cash likes power even if it’s just for illusion and selling the dated Bronx Bomber mystique. I see this as a pretty good fit there and if he does get in enough to hit 20 Hr that would be gravy.
What part of .261 with 11 home runs in 157 AB screams more average over power to you? He also had 25+ HR power the final two years in the minors in extreme pitcher parks and he’s a lefty now in Yankee Stadium, which for lefties is an extreme hitter’s park.
austin and bird at first and carter as DH
Holliday is DH.
And Holliday (who is horrible defensive player)?
Good power bat for the AL East. Get him for cheap.
If Carter signs for only 1yr and 3mil then that will make that Morales deal look absolutely horrid. Jays definitely made a huge mistake with that deal.
I would take him as part time DH for anything under 10 million. Great bargain for homers off bench.
Yeah when he plays every day. His power numbers plummet with limited ab’s.
He’s going to be a ray. Everyone else move on.
Looks like the Yankees didn’t move on
It’s a great move.Yankees are thin at power positions and lack depth. He gives them the pop they need as a right handed hitter and he’s more reliable(not by much) then Austin is.
Thin at power? Sanchez, Bird, and Judge should total 90-100 homeruns this year.
I doubt that and as you can see I’m a Yankees fan. More like 60-75 I would say for them.
That’s way more realistic, and possibly even a generous number.
They also have the ability to hit 120-150.
Wow 150 would be 50 hr a piece I’d agree with MB 25 a piece is definitely feasible from that group
Ok. Now that means he’s trolling lol.
Hey Mike. Have you been reading about a youth movement? You are going to judge Austin on a short showcase; and then favor a guy who will strike out more often than you change your underwear?
yes top 3 farm system… why rush Austin and have him platoon when he can play every day in the minors and get better…. Never said Carter was the future just said I would take his power in that lineup
Carter would be a hit in New York , this would be a great move
A great move for the Mets. Limited ability. Overpaid for spotty production. Fall in love with the hr’s and Moan and groan with all Of the k’s!
Makes zero sense.
If Carter is signed then both RefSnyder and Austin don’t make team. Only one spot for the two of them as is. I hope this doesn’t happen.
Carter at $3.5-4.0m for one year would be a steal for a bench player with pop who can platoon at 1B. He is flawed, but so is every bench player…or they’d be a starter. TB is the team that probably would benefit the most by signing Carter.
Probably get him for a used Corolla and the first season of Seinfeld right about now.
My favorite post of the day…..bahahahahaha!!!!
I can’t see how this makes sense forCarter. He’s not going to get 600 PA here,unless something goes wrong for the Yankees.
Yanks are not going to hand a prospect any position, they will have to earn it. Cashman likes to have back-ups when he doesn’t have a proven player at a position. I think he like Carter for the right price because he has a lot of power and he is proven. We know he strikes out a ton too. Let’s face it, Judge, Austin, and Bird haven’t proven anything yet, and the other prospects are a year away. Cashman would love to see Bird and Judge win their spots, he is just preparing for their failure, which is also a possibility..
Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!! Please please please please, NO CHRIS CARTER!!!!!!
Dave Stewart will figure this thing out.
yes Mikey and they have a top 3 farm system… why rush Austin and have him platoon when he can play every day in the minors and get better…. Never said Carter was the future just said I would take his power in that lineup