The New York Yankees will enter the 2019 with two first-baseman, Greg Bird and Luke Voit. The duo will compete for the starting position with the latter likely beginning the season on the active roster.
Voit finished 2018 with a fantastic .333 batting average, despite struggling a bit at first-base with two errors in roughly 30 outings.
Bird is the better defender (2 errors in 74 games) but a far less capable hitter, finishing last season with a .199 BA. The season ahead offers a more optimistic approach as they Yankees will have two options to choose from on any given day, additionally Bird being a lefty will help a right-heavy batting order.
Why the New York Yankees should be optimistic with Greg Bird:
Bird missed a majority of 2017 with a significant foot injury, and his return was underwhelming. He was never a prolific hitter but was average in the farm-system. His defense is what impressed GM Brian Cashman the most, and he will have one more change to display his skill set this year.
The 26-year-old signed a one-year $1.2 million deal before arbitration kicked in. The market value for Bird was expected to be a bit higher but the Yankees managed to save a few hundred-thousand on their struggling first-baseman.