Yankees may have to make a surprising move to fit bats

Its not a problem the New York Yankees expected to have.

With the way that Ben Rice is playing they will have to find a way to keep him in the lineup, even when Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu come back from the injured list.

Right now, thats a problem for down the road.

Neither veteran hitter has a timeline for returning.

That hasnt stopped everyone in baseball from worrying about it.

MLB Network analyst and USA Baseball coach Mark DeRosa floated the idea this week.

He suggested the Yankees should try Ben Rice in the outfield.New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Orioles at Camden Yards.

Ken Blaze-Imagn Images"(Paul) Goldschmidts not coming out and Ben Rice is not coming out," DeRosa said on MLB Network.

If Stanton is your DH, then try Rice in the outfield.

You might not have another choice.It sounds ridiculous.

Rice has never played in the outfield.

But if you look at the numbers, it might be worth a try.

Paul Goldschmidt is slashing .363/.411/.460 with 12 RBIs in 30 games.

Hes not hitting for power, but hes still getting on base and driving in runs.

Hes excellent at first base, so he is not going anywhere.

Rice, meanwhile, has a .998 OPS and eight home runs in just 26 games.

Hes already surpassed his 2024 home run total in nearly half the playing time.

The Yankees cant afford to pull that kind of production from the lineup.And then theres Giancarlo Stanton.Stanton hasnt played the outfield regularly since 2022.

He hit 27 home runs last year and added seven more in 14 postseason games.

With his lingering elbow issues, if his bat still plays, the designated hitter spot is the only realistic option for him when he returns.

Thats where things get complicated.Rice has never played a single inning in the outfield in college, the minors, or the pros.

He's a catcher and a first baseman.

But with both of those spots already occupied, the Yankees may need to think creatively to keep all three bats in the lineup.Its not ideal, but teams have moved bats for the sake of offense before.

Its a luxury problem, and one the Yankees are happy to have.If Rice keeps hitting like this, theyll have to find a place for him, one way or another.Related: Jazz Chisholm Jr.

and Yankees Facing a Possible IL Stint After Oblique InjuryRelated: Aaron Judge and the Yankees Make Juan Soto Look Like a Flop.

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