For more than a month late last season, as they futilely tried to track down the Red Sox, the Yankees deployed an unsatisfactory right field platoon of journeyman Shane Robinson and career infielder Neil Walker.
Aaron Judge had fractured his wrist in late July, Giancarlo Stanton was dealing with enough leg injuries to reduce him mainly to a DH and the Yankees had traded much of their minor league outfield depth, including a July deal with Toronto for J.A. Happ that cost Billy McKinney. The acquisition of Andrew McCutchen on the final day of August ultimately solved the depth problem.
If anything, the 2019 Yankees have endured more blows to their outfield than the 2018 squad. Judge missed two months with an oblique injury, Aaron Hicks has endured two IL stints totaling 2 ¹/₂ months and counting, and Stanton has played just a bit more than Jacoby Ellsbury (remember him?).
Yet the outfield as a whole has been as productive this season as last, when it was one of the majors’ best — an .835 OPS in 2019 compared to .812 last year and a homer every 22.2 plate appearances compared to every 23.8 last season. Additions such as Cameron Maybin and Mike Tauchman have helped the Yankees avoid the need to force-feed a Walker type or plummet to a Robinson. Maybin and Tauchman had combined for an .853 and a 3.5 Wins Above Replacement (Fangraphs) in 504 plate appearances going into Wednesday compared to .872 and 3.6 WAR in 589 plate appearances for Bryce Harper, who many fans and media members insisted the Yankees had to sign last offseason.
This could leave complicated decisions, for Aaron Boone over how to align come the postseason and for Brian Cashman regarding how to build the outfield. Both plans are complicated by which other position players the Yanks carry in 2020 — will, for example, Miguel Andujar make it back, will Didi Gregorius be re-signed, do the Yankees see Mike Ford as a real contributor?
The only sure thing for October and next April is Judge, who hit a two-run homer and threw a runner out at second Wednesday night as the Yankees defeated the Rangers 4-1.
Otherwise, here is 20-20 foresight for the 2020 outfield:
Clint Frazier: He will continue to be used as trade bait, especially for a starter. But just for perspective — to the impatient Frazier, as well — the Astros’ Kyle Tucker (225) and the Dodgers’ Alex Verdugo (208) have endured nearly as many Triple-A games as Frazier (213) and both produced at a higher level. But this is life when you play with a stacked super-power — it is hard to break in.
The difference is age, Frazier turns 25 on Friday, Verdugo is 23, Tucker 22. Both are firmly in their teams’ plans next year. Frazier still has a minor league option and could be at the mercy of a variety of factors such as …
Brett Gardner: Will Gardner retire? Will the Yankees decide not to bring him back? Gardner is having one of his best seasons at 36, not only hitting for power, but playing center field at a high level. Plus, he is a vital clubhouse leader, which could grow in importance with CC Sabathia retiring.
Hicks: The Yankees might regret that seven-year, $70 million extension that kept Hicks out of the coming free-agent market. He has failed to stay healthy. Could the Yanks shop him in the offseason as a way to save money to more easily try to retain Gregorius and/or sign Gerrit Cole? Would teams be interested in the talented, but fragile switch-hitter? Do the Yankees believe Gardner and Tauchman could adequately cover the position?
Maybin: His strong performance since being purchased from the Indians in late April should net Maybin a major league contract in 2020 as no worse than a reserve outfielder. Unless the Yankees move a few pieces, however, it is hard to see them bringing Maybin back.
Stanton: He turns 30 in November and a series of leg injuries this season have further raised doubts he can play the outfield for extended periods. But designated hitter is Luke Voit’s best spot and Ford’s too. And here is one to remember: The Yankees love Edwin Encarnacion as not just a hitter, but as a member of this group. It is hard to see how the Yanks shoehorn him back in as a free agent, especially if they think Stanton cannot play the outfield regularly.
Tauchman: Like Gardner, he is lefty, reads the strike zone well and can play all three outfield spots above average. He projects to more power and less speed, but since he is not even arbitration-eligible until after 2021, Tauchman is no worse than a fourth outfield option. But if the Yankees believe what they saw this year is real can Tauchman be more, allowing them to walk away from Gardner or even trade Hicks?