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Orioles: 2016 AL East Positional First Base Rankings

By Nate Wardle

Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez (13) connects for a RBI single in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians during game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez (13) connects for a RBI single in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians during game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mark Teixeira
Oct 2, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) waves to fans after he is pulled from the field in his final Major League game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports /

5. New York Yankees – Mark Teixeira, Tyler Austin, Rob Refsnyder, Dustin Ackley (Prediction: 2nd, Teixeira, Ackley, Refsnyder, Greg Bird)

Going into the season, I didn’t trust Mark Teixeira, and those concerns were warranted, but not why I thought.

I expected him to get hurt as he continued to age. However, with the lack of certainty on other teams, I figured even if Tex played half the games, he would be semi-productive.

Well, Tex stayed healthy in his last season, but he was not very good. Mark hit to a .204/.292/.362 line with 15 HR, 16 2Bs, 44 RBIs and 43 runs. Not exactly a great year from a power hitter.

The numbers don’t paint Teixeira as a bad fielder, but he still had a negative dWAR, and a negative WAR overall. Luckily for the Yankees, the writing was on the wall.

Now, did any of the other first baseman show themselves as a potential starter next year? No, because Greg Bird should be healthy and able to man the position.

Austin started 20 games at first base, and did a decent job. His defensive numbers are also not great, but it was a small sample size, and Austin is still learning the position.

Refsnyder played all over the place for the Yankees in 2016, and while offensively he did a good job, his defense at first base was not very good.

Ackley only started 10 games for the Yankees at first base, and struggled mightily in 2016, hitting for a batting average under .150. One has to figure his time as a Yankee is done, even thought he is not a free agent yet.

The struggles of Tex in his final season, and the limitations of the other options keep the Yankees at the bottom of the list.

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