The New York Yankees have numerous points getting into the offseason and methods to enhance the roster. Nonetheless, one noteworthy subject includes the staff’s finest hitter of the 2026 season. Ben Rice led the staff after Aaron Choose suffered his damage and was among the many finest total hitters within the MLB. The issue is that Rice spent a lot of the season because the designated hitter and not using a defensive place.
The New York Occasions named this as one of many three largest points for the Yankees this offseason:
“Rice, who will probably be 28 subsequent yr, is simply too younger to be a full-time designated hitter. It additionally wouldn’t be ideally suited for the Yankees if he takes nearly all of his at-bats there. Regardless of how good Rice has proved to be as a hitter (41 residence runs, .897 OPS), he was unhealthy defensively at first base final season.
Of the 43 gamers who performed 300 innings on the place, Rice ranked second-to-last in DRS at minus-8. Solely the Seattle Mariners’ Josh Naylor was worse at minus-9. Rice’s points ran the gamut: He was plodding; he didn’t have the very best really feel for the place; he was a poor receiver.”
The Yankees will doubtless need Rice to be the first first baseman subsequent season. Rice will probably be proper there with Choose and Cody Bellinger because the three most necessary hitters on the roster. Sadly, Choose must play some DH as he will get older and returns from damage. Giancarlo Stanton stays on the roster, and he can’t play protection both.
Yankees Can’t Win If Ben Rice Doesn’t Enhance
It feels improper to place this a lot stress and doubt onto the brightest hitting spot of the 2026 season. Nonetheless, Rice was a beneath common defender when he tried. Luis Garcia and Paul Goldschmidt spent a lot of the season at first base.
The Yankees have to put their finest hitters within the lineup and discover a approach to protect Choose’s well being because the long-term face of the franchise. Rice must spend a big share of the season taking part in protection for the staff to have a viable likelihood at MLB success.
One fixed subject for the Yankees lately is the protection failing them. Sport 2 towards the Tampa Bay Rays noticed errors contributing to an embarrassing sweep to finish the World Sequence hopes.
How Stanton May Be The Odd Man Out
Stanton was named by the NY Occasions as one other enormous concern after he missed a lot of the season. The getting old and gradual Stanton will doubtless must DH each time he performs, which made the emergence of Spencer Jones an enormous assist.
The Yankees can solely have so many gamers who’re higher off because the DH. Rice struggling to enhance defensively can see Stanton getting minimize within the offseason. This requires the Yankees to lose some cash, however they’re splitting his contract with the Miami Marlins.
Choose taking part in extra DH is the largest change coming to the Yankees. If Rice wants a while at DH too, the complete roster will should be flipped the other way up. Stanton is the identify most probably to get moved, however Rice has essentially the most stress on him to repair the problem.
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