He has been tearing it up since moving to AAA. It's being said he will challenge Bird in spring training at first base. 61/190 .321 13hrs 47 RBIs 32 BB 54 Ks .417 OBP .637 SLG 1.054 OPS
in 54 games at SWB Austin looks ready. He's played most of his games at 1st base, has played a few in the OF, and 2 at 3rd base. His bio-states "Right Field, First Base, 3rd Base".... With competition Bird and Austin competing for the First Base Job, hopefully the loser plays well enough, to perhaps knock Headley out of the line up....(if they can convert to 3rd easily)....
This is great all of a sudden having some young talent to look forward to. If bird is healthy I would really like to see tyler at 3rd so we can jettison Headley's useless ass out of here. That unfortunately will probably be a buyout also as Headley is about as wanted by other teams as wet toilet paper.
I'd love to see Bird and Austin on the corner's, provided both stay healthy and hot with the bat, gloves, and brains... anything to get rid of Headley, without expecting anything in return for him, (tho' not always a sound financial move, it would be worthy), since no one has ever shown interest in him, other than our GM, when no one wanted him. Then as we all know, Chase gets a nice raise, for what...???
Not sure what their plans are for Austin but I don't think it'll be at 3b and you have to believe they'll find a spot for his bat. imo - 1b is Bird's job to lose in 2017. Austin has played 34 games (2 this year) at 3b thru the minors with 10 errors. He had 8G at 3b in 2014 with 4 errors, 18G in 2011 with 5 errors. Has played over 300G in the outfield primarily RF but he has played LF. Yanks have to move Gardner and open up that spot for one of their young players, Austin or possibly Gamel. Gamel 24 yr old LH/ LF is batting .302 with an OBP of .364. Not alot of power but is 2nd on the team with 21 doubles and leads the team with 19 SB. He's also batted .300/ .830 last year. Yanks appear to be covered in LF with Gamel and/or Austin (if Austin isn't the regular 1b) Gardner and his .257-ish BA and 100 Ks isn't good enough to keep that job away from one or both of these kids. Just put one of them out there......chances are one or both can at least do a similiar job as Gardner with a chance of being better.
...granted the Yanx have bolstered their farm with some young talent...but they are heavy in some positions while light in others. And some of the current contracts and roster spots will unfortunately block some of these kids for a awhile. ...of course, the Yanx can always use this surplus to acquire other players to fill other needs and spots...the future looks brighter.
Bride, I think that left field spot is being reserved for frazier so austin's best spot to keep is bat in the yankee lineup will probably be 3b or dh
