AL 1B

Yankees: Jason Giambi
Red Sox: Kevin Youkilis
Blue Jays: Lyle Overbay
Devil Rays: Travis Lee
Orioles: Kevin Millar

White Sox: Paul Konerko
Twins: Justin Morneau
Indians: Ben Broussard
Tigers: Chris Shelton
Royals: Doug Mientkiewicz

Angels: Casey Kotchman
A’s: Nick Swisher
Rangers: Mark Texeria
Mariners: Richie Sexson

This is a list of the starting 1B in the American League. Only the Yankees, White Sox, Twins, Rangers and Mariners have players who are have no threats whatsoever to their jobs. This doesn’t mean they couldn’t lose them. It only means it would take a calamitous injury to do so.

The teams whose first basemen are fairly safe are the Blue Jays, Devil Rays, Indians, Angels and A’s. But there are a couple of caveats.

The Blue Jays have a lot of 1B-types with Overbay, Hillenbrand and Hinske. One of them will fill the DH role. My guess is Hinske is the odd man out and will remain so.

The Devil Rays have Travis Lee, who should be on thinner ice than any of the others, but he plays good defense and the Drays have no other viable option right now. If Delmon Young makes the Opening Day roster, then Huff could push Lee to the curb. I doubt that though. However, watch Wes Bankston in AA or AAA. He is a well regarded albeit much less known DRay prospect. Taking him in a minor league draft would not be a mistake.

The Angels moved Darin Erstad to CF and installed Casey Kotchman at 1B. Normally, a rookie would have a shorter leash, but as the Angels are currently configured, there is no viable back-up except Erstad. However, Kendry Morales should be at AAA, and he is a threat if Kotchman flops.

The A’s have Moneyballer Nick Swisher at 1B, but the signing of Frank Thomas clogs the DH hole where Dan Johnson had previously been listed. Johnson could play 1B and Swisher could be moved back to the OF. If this is the plan, then the A’s have to trade an OF. Jay Payton is the most likely as he complained in Boston about PT, came to Oakland and hit lights out and has already complained this off-season.


I know the Indians signed Eduardo Perez as a right-handed bat off the bench, but I do not see him in a straight platoon with Broussard. I do think he will be a very good $1 risk at the end of the draft as he has hit double digit HRs in three of the last four seasons in very limited number of ABs. The Indians do have Mike Aubrey and Ryan Garko on the farm. If Broussard struggles, grab whoever is recalled.

The Tigers have Chris Shelton at 1B. He deserves to keep the job based on his consistency last season, but Carlos Pena is there to take ABs. Unless the Tigers figure out a way to trade either of them or Dmitri Young, expect neither player to get 500 ABs. I expect Chelton to be the hotter property on Draft Day, but could see grabbing Pena for $8 or so and hoping for a trade to realize double that price.

The Royals and the Red Sox have poor hitting 1B in Youkilis and Mientkiewicz although reports out of Boston indicate they believe Youkilis, the God of Walks, could hit 20. If that is the case, then Mientkiewicz grabs the title of Worst Starting 1B. Look for his back-up to get a lot of ABs. Expect Justin Huber to land the job sometime in 2006. (BTW, how is Kris Benson doing with the Mets?)