For the second consecutive season, New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird's season will start on the disabled list. The 25-year-old first baseman, who experienced soreness in his foot last week, will undergo surgery to remove a born spur from his ankle.
Bird's absence for up to two months of the regular season is a bigger blow to his fantasy value than it will be for the Yankees. While New York would love to have his bat in its lineup, the team's bench is deep with Tyler Austin, Neil Walker and Tyler Wade's versatility. All three possess capable bats who will be just fine at the end of New York's lineup, which possesses plenty of power and productivity even with a weaker bottom of the order.
From a fantasy perspective, a growing fantasy sleeper target in drafts and trades now sustains a major hit. A potential two-month absence, with the risk of complications or setbacks later on, turn what could have been a 30-homer season into 18-22 home runs at most. He also carries the risk of someone in front of him performing very well and it ultimately leads to Bird losing significant plate appearances upon his return.
Right now, Bird is a late round draft pick in leagues with DL spots or very deep benches. If neither are options in your fantasy leagues, it's best to leave Bird on the waiver wire until he is much closer to playing again.