The New York Yankees’ lineup traffic jams tend to work themselves out. Players get hurt. Slumping pieces need time to reset. It’s exceedingly rare that something that looks like it might be a catastrophe down the line actually is. Still … it certainly seems like the Yankees have to carefully carve out a path for Ben Rice this summer. Now is the time for action.
Rice started the season like a house afire, and still ranks towards the top of the league in most expected stats and hard contact measurements. He’s already struggling to find rhythmic playing time these days, though, with Trent Grisham, Jasson Dominguez, and Paul Goldschmidt all demanding regular reps. It’s been exceedingly difficult for the Yankees to keep a regular DH. Well, scratch that. They don’t even really want one. They love flexibility. And that reality will get even tougher when Giancarlo Stanton enters the mix, who cannot be moved around.
That day isn’t quite around the corner yet. Stanton currently has no timetable to begin an ideally quick rehab assignment. When that clock begins ticking, he’ll be in the Bronx before too long, but the Yankees have been extra cautious throughout the process so far (mostly due to Rice, Grisham and Goldschmidt excelling).
But … when that day comes … at least half of Rice’s DH reps (conservatively) will be absorbed by Stanton, even if he doesn’t have the ability to play every day. That leaves only one position plainly open on the Yankees’ roster: third base, vacated after Oswaldo Cabrera’s devastating injury, and currently manned by a series of afterthoughts (sorry, Jorbit Vivas).
And … what do you know? According to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, Rice has been taking reps there “for fun”! Probably just fun stuff happening. Nothing to it, really.
New York Yankees giving Ben Rice reps at third base after Oswaldo Cabrera injury, ahead of Giancarlo Stanton comeback
The dirty secret of Stanton’s apparent recovery is that it complicates plenty of things for the Yankees … unless Rice is able to seamlessly shift to third three or four days a week, then take first base/DH two or three times to round things out.
If Rice has a home, then the upside of Stanton’s return is clear. Just look at what Anthony Volpe, No. 5 Hitter struggled with during the weekend’s Subway Series. Having a certified punisher in the middle of the order will be crucial.
And … what do you know? According to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, Rice has been taking reps there “for fun”! Probably just fun stuff happening. Nothing to it, really.