BT & Sal: Could Aaron Judge or Alex Verdugo move to first base to maximize Yankees lineup?

As Ben Rice is promoted from Triple-A in the wake of Anthony Rizzo’s injury, BT and Sal wonder where the Yankees will turn to solve first base if the 25-year-old prospect can’t find his footing in the majors.

“Let’s say that Ben Rice doesn’t hit,” BT said. “Is there a thought that maybe you start messing around now behind the scenes with one of these outfielders?

“Don’t you think you need to have another plan? If first base doesn’t resolve itself favorably from Rice, Rizzo, or DJ [LeMahieu] - and let‘s face it, there’s a decent chance it won’t…there is a way to get all of those bats in the lineup.”

BT and Sal agree that if Rice’s hot bat doesn’t translate to the big leagues, and Rizzo cannot be trusted to be the hitter he was before his concussion last year, then it may be time to give either Aaron Judge or Alex Verdugo a first baseman’s mitt once Jasson Dominguez is ready to return. Neither have played a game at first base in their big league careers, but it would keep all the top Yankee bats in the lineup on a nightly basis.

“It makes them a better team,” Sal said. “What first baseman are you getting on the market that could be better than Dominguez?

“Judge would probably be the one. Who else? Are you gonna do Vergudo? Whoever they think would be best suited for first base, that’s their best lineup. Soto in right, Dominguez in center, Judge or Verdugo at first and the other in left, and Stanton at DH. And now you can upgrade second and third base however you want to do that.”