The Yankees announced that first baseman Greg Bird will undergo surgery on Tuesday “to remove a small broken spur on the outside aspect of his right ankle.” He’ll miss approximately six to eight weeks as a result.
This is the latest in a growing line of injury problems for the 25-year-old Bird, who sat out the entire 2016 campaign after undergoing shoulder surgery and then missed the majority of last season with a right foot injury. He and the Yankees are left to hope surgery repairs that foot, and it’ll leave the club with Tyler Austin and Neil Walker among its big league first base options in the meantime. If the Yankees look for outside help, it’s worth noting that they had Adam Lind in camp earlier this month. New York elected to release Lind, who remains a free agent.
Regardless of where the Yankees go from here at first, it’s obvious this is a notable blow to both them and Bird. At his best, the left-handed hitter has looked like a perfect fit for Yankee Stadium and its short right field porch. There was optimism that a healthy Bird would break out from the get-go this year and give the Yankees a fourth fearsome slugger to join Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez. But it’ll be yet another abbreviated campaign for Bird, who has played just 94 games since earning his first major league promotion in 2015.
Although Bird wowed during his rookie campaign with a .261/.343/.529 line (137 wRC+) in 178 plate appearances, last year’s injury limited him to a .190/.288/.422 showing (86 wRC+) in 170 PAs. To his credit, Bird returned in time for the playoffs to serve as one the Yankees’ top October performers before they fell in a seven-game ALCS against the Astros. That’ll go down as Bird’s last meaningful action until at least mid-May.
thegreatcerealfamine
This guy can’t catch a break!!
Jockstrapper
Actually, he catches too many. That’s the problem!
Bocephus
Not funny.
Comment Section Mod
Whether you like it or not, it is kind of true.
srechter
Pissed off yankees fan here. Begrudgingly, it’s still pretty funny.
sammy d.
Wtf!!!!
brucewayne
Doesn’t look like the little Birdie will be going North for awhile! Bad break Yanks! Good luck !
dugdog83
You should tweet that
acarneglia
And so it begins……
walls17
Ouchie
qbass187
And there it is
ernestofigueroa87
Damn!
guille
It sucks but it was to be expected. Guy seems to have a really huge problem with that ankle. Not gonna go away easily/soon. Tyler Austin gets another chance to stick then?
ray_derek
Walker/Austin would be my guess.
velorum
I’m seeing McKinney as a likely option too, considering he led the team in RBIs during ST. (Yes, he can play 1B.)
thegreatcerealfamine
Definitely,I’ve been saying that for a couple of weeks.
southbeachbully
Not really. Other than AZ Fall league and ST he’s never played 1B in any games that mattered. My guess is they’ll go with Austin. He’s started over a 150 games at 1B so it seems like he would be the best fit, Behind him, I’d like to see Mike Ford get a shot. He’s had the better ST over Austin and McKinney, although for another team.
davbee
You are not only overvaluing spring training stats, you are trying to compare the grapefruit league with the cactus league, one of which is a hitters paradise.
sheff86
Hello Tyler Austin!!!
jdgoat
Ya this is his chance. If he performs it might be hard to move off him even when Bird returns
deweybelongsinthehall
Bird is so promising that he will get all the chances possible. Sad that he may just a baseball’s Bill Walton (just comparing the inability to remain on the court/field.
infinitybinge
Sure, Bird has been looked at by the Yankees as an above average first basemen and had a spectacular spring training last year but he has been plagued by injuries in his fledgling career. He does not play another position, doesn’t hit for contact and plays sub-par defense. How much longer until they move on? He’s not the next Mattingly, Tino or Texeira.
algionfriddo
Any chance the Yanks show an interest in Justin Bour?
stretch123
It’d take two of there best prospects… marlins value Bour pretty highly. Yanks should sign Adam Lind
thetruth 2
Lol. More like 2 top 20 prospects maybe 1 in the top 10 but closer to 10 than 1. Bour is not nearly as valuable as you think. Close to 30, can’t stay healthy, only has power to offer and had issues hitting lefties until last season.
a1544
Why the hell would anyone trade for bour with Reynolds unemployed?
jdgoat
Bour is much, much better and isn’t coming off a Coors inflated season
stymeedone
Reynolds won’t cost any prospects and you only need a six week replacement.
a1544
right. i didn’t think it would take a lot to understand this
davidcoonce74
You should check out Reynolds’non-Coors stats last season. A first baseman with a .397 Slugging %? No thanks.
mlb1225
I mean, there are still some options on the free agent market they could pick up to add some depth to first base.
Ry.the.Stunner
I’m guessing the Yankees could get Bour for two low-level low-floor low-ceiling prospects not unlike the return for Stanton.
southi
Not likely for Bour. The only reason Stanton was so cheap was because of the baggage of his contract.
Bour should NOT cost two top prospects as someone suggested, but he won’t be overly cheap to acquire either. I’d imagine a back half top 100 guy (say in 50-100 range) and one low end, low floor type guy should get it done.
But to be honest I just don’t see the Yankees as that desperate to go that route. They have options already in the organization and at worst might bring a disposable budget free agent in like Lind.
deweybelongsinthehall
Staying under the threshold suggests they will start the year with what they have.
yanks2009
The awesome news is that he’s not done for the season plus we have too many options at first base… mc kinnie, Austin, Parker n many more.
Bocephus
Parker?
U4gotSouza
Gonna give him the benefit of the doubt and say he meant Walker
YankeeMan
Also Mike Ford who was returned by the Mariners from the Rule 5 draft.
Strauss
Can’t McKinney play first base?
Bob Knob
Yes.
Yes he can.
roadapple
He needs to fix his tootsie once and for all.
jdgoat
This guy can’t catch a break
thegreatcerealfamine
Nice try on a troll!
jdgoat
What?
thegreatcerealfamine
I posted that exact thing word for word. One guy made a smart remark already…
high_upside
I do declare sir that Mr. Bird catches breaks which are too numerous as it stands.
Jake C.
Give mark Reynolds a call please
xkeiserx24
The Yankees should have had judge Stanton or Clint fraizer if he healthy taking reps this offseason at first since Bird is made of glass. Missed opportunity
R.D.
The first sign of spring is that Bird’s out.
guille
Tyler Austin makes the team, according to Coley Harvey and others on twitter
mattingly23
Nick Johnson 2.0
Hofjoemann
Bring back Teix!
qbass187
Greg Bird…BONES!!!! #amirite
Ken M.
Glass Bird.
Chris
Beginning to worry Bird just can’t stay healthy. I’d like to see the Yankees re-sign Adam Lind, who’s been an above average bar the majority of his career while also giving Tyler Austin a shot. Smh get well soon Greg
davidcoonce74
Yeah, generally players who get hurt a lot tend to keep getting hurt a lot. Bill James, many years ago, did a study about injuries and he found that health is a skill. Bird might be a 40-homer guy, but he may also never be healthy enough to show it.
steelerbravenation
Give Ford a chance
venom
He’s gonna be one of those should of/could of but injuries killed him guys. Sucks cause he has talent. That’s why we signed walker in case anyone wondered! Too bad cause I like him!
Adam6710
Should HAVE / Could HAVE.
venom
He’s the gronkowski of baseball
infinitybinge
Poor comparison. Bird hasn’t put up stats consistently like Gronk, whi could retire today and get in the HOF.
Emerson83
Can someone make the “Bird having trouble migrating north” joke again, that was really good
majorflaw
No, but I can revive one from last year’s playoffs.
Q: Name three birds that can’t fly?
A: Penguin, Ostrich, Greg.
driftcat28 2
This sucks, hopefully he takes all the time he needs so his can heal properly. The Yanks should look into Lind again. Already had him in camp and still available. Put up good numbers last year
southbeachbully
I’d rather they not. They have Austin, Walker and Wade (to play 2b). Let’s see what those guys can do. Keep in mind that Lind was released once they signed Walker. We don’t need to allocate that many roster spots for 1B.
Fg-3
Someone call Arod
Fg-3
At least gronk is the best at his position when he’s around
This kid is playing baseball and is made of glass
southbeachbully
Yeah but’s it’s been his ankle. Name me a sport where you can play at a high level with bad feet/ankles.
JaysForDays
hot dog eating
metseventually 2
That’s a shame
pinterman
Paging Adam Lind.
DockEllisDee
This guy can’t catch a break!
Begamin
oof. gone forever donald sterling.
well, heres to a speedy recovery!
Bob Knob
Austin.
Walker.
McKinney.
Ford..
….hey guys – it’ll work out fine..
No need for a trade – unless Cashman wants to make moves now by getting ‘ducks-in-a-row’ for a ‘later on’ move..
Relax and look forward.
Lanidrac
I don’t know why people were so sure Bird was going to break out this year, anyway. He was lousy even before he got hurt last year.
Ken M.
Because he hit 8 home runs in the last month last year when he came. Albeit vs expanded rosters, but still…. That’s 8 home runs.
Begamin
dont forget the bomb off ken giles and andrew miller in the playoffs. (it was ken giles, right?)
AllRise
That’s just flat inaccurate Lanldrac. He was injured the entire first half of the 2017 season, even if he was on the field. When he came back the 2nd half and was healthy, he was much better hitting 8 home runs, 25 rbis and 9 walks in just 29 games.
Ken M.
Austin, Walker, Didi and Drury. Worst infield in AL east?
metseventually 2
Yeah, but it’ll be Andjuar and Torres by June.
mikeyank55
Too bad the Mets farm system is so barren eventually. You might have something to truly look forward to, huh?
thetruth 2
Drury and Walker are 20 HR bats who won’t hurt you in average. Tampa, Boston have wieder infields.
Perksy
Maybe they can try Stanton at 1b.
Begamin
is this b8?
Jim Brewer Fan
Eric Thames could be had.
stratcrowder
We’ll still break the single season HR record. Gonna miss the POTENTIAL of his bat in the lineup.
cjuluca
Trade for Aguilar forget Bird.
bjsguess
Ouch. I wasn’t as high on Bird as others, but even a decent showing will be hard to replace with in-house options. Lind is a no-brainer. Get him signed now. If it doesn’t work, troll around the other options that are on one-year deals. They should be able to get something cheap to fill the gap.
stantonismvp17
A Yankees fans reaction:
DANG IT DANG IT DANG IT DANG IT
A Red Sox fans reaction:
Cool
A smart persons reaction:
We all knew this would happen
slider32
The jury is still out on Bird, his health is really a question., but I still like Bird. He has shown he can be a star pllayer. Hope they can fix his health problems.
Begamin
I have faith that they’ll eventually get his ankle problems sorted out once and for all. his talent is one to be patient with. everyone begging to ditch bird is out of their minds
sportsfan101
I love this. I hate bird so much.
top jimmy
Bird is about to get Pipped by Austin.
twinswin 2
this guy can NOT catch a break
3Rivers
Walker/Austin split time a 1st and trade for Josh Harrison? Or will I be good?
hohnav21
Not a surprise that Bird and Ellsbury are injured to start the season they are both frail.
longjohnsilver
Try and get Osuna from the Pirates? Might surprise you.
Aoe3
Bird is young and can hopefully fully heal up and have a productive career. At least u dont have some 20m/year 33yo shortstop whos still injured from last season and probably wont ever heal again. Stick a fork in Tulo!
yankeemanuno23
Did he not injure the same right foot this time in spring training with a foul ball off his foot ?
chrisbluediamond
Bird should just stop playing in spring training….