Remember the outcry around Tyler Wade at the end of spring training this year? Wade had just come off an admirable spring, slashing .308/.345/.500 and playing all over the infield and outfield. It didn’t look like there was much more he could do to solidify his spot on the roster.
Instead, the Yankees shocked everyone by demoting Wade and acquiring little-known Mike Tauchman to round out the roster. When asked about the reasoning to go with Tauchman over him, Wade made it very clear that team management didn’t trust his outfield defense:
“That they need a real outfielder,” Wade said was the reason for his demotion.