Last night, Anthony Volpe started his rehab assignment in AA (he struck out twice in two at-bats).  A hitter cannot be on a rehab assignment for longer than 20 days, so it’s fair to expect Volpe by the start of May.  Volpe was not good last year.  He had a .212/.272/.391 slash line with 19 HRs and 18 SBs in 539 at-bats.  In an odd twist, that is damn close to the Yankees team stats through 17 games, a .211/.311/.372 slash line with 19 HRs and 21 SBs in 544 at-bats.  So, if you are upset with the team hitting, it’s because you basically just watched Volpe hit for a full season!  Now, with Volpe coming back to the active roster, someone has to go.  It won’t be Amed Rosario (.300/.333/.600), who has hit well, and it won’t be Caballero, who is currently starting at shortstop. slashing .179/.220/.286, but he offers position flexibility, and he has 6 stolen bases.  That leaves three options, and let’s walk through them.

Option 1: The Useless Backup Catcher

I would be shocked if the Yankees don’t just decide to send JC Escarra down, because he is the only one with options.  Escarra was also sent down when the Yankees had a roster crunch last year after the trade deadline.  The problem, though, is that the Yankees haven’t even put Ben Rice behind the plate for an inning, so maybe they don’t think he can catch anymore.  Minimally, if they go this option, they need to at least try Rice out behind the plate in the next two weeks.  Escarra adds nothing to the team as a left-handed hitter who is 0-11 on the season with one walk.

Option 2: The Useless Backup Outfielder

I had no issue with signing Randall Grichuk during spring training.  Maybe this 34-year-old career average hitting outfielder (his career OPS+ is 102) had something left.  Well, he went 3 for 24 in spring training, and they handed him a roster spot as a “lefty masher.” The masher, of course, only had a slash line of .227/.273/.430 against lefties last year.  So, what has he done this year?  Next to nothing.  A slash line of .063/.118/.125 and 7 strikeouts in 17 plate appearances.  The problem, of course, is who would take over if he is cut.  I suppose Caballero can take his place; at least he offers speed and is a better threat to get on base.

Option 3: The Useless Backup First Baseman

I did not like the signing of Paul Goldschmidt.  Yes, he is a future Hall of Famer, but $5 million for a guy who can only backup first base didn’t make sense.  It makes even less sense when he is just stealing at bats from one of the best hitters in the league (Rice has a slash line of .362/.500/.745).  Also, Goldschmidt was clearly washed after June 1st.  In his last 279 plate appearances, he had a meager 4 home runs and 17 RBIs, which is horrendous production.  Yes, I know he can hit lefties, and he wasn’t awful as a leadoff hitter in that role last year (.282/.332/.407).  The problem, though, is how do you find time to play him, especially when you can’t use him to pinch hit against righties (he sucks against righties).  The guy has 19 plate appearances through 17 games.  Over a full season, that is 200 plate appearances or $25,000 for a plate appearance.  I don’t see the value in that.

The Yankees will, of course, wait until the day Volpe returns to make a decision, as they hope for an injury.  I suppose they could keep Volpe in the minors, but we know they won’t do that.  As I said above, I think they send Escarra down.  Honestly, I am good with any of these three moves as I think all three of them should be cut (and replaced with Volpe, Jasson Dominguez, and either Paul DeJong or Oswaldo Cabrera).  At least we will have some changes offensively in May, but I am not sure replacing this bad offense with a guy who hits just like it is much of a change …