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Yankees' Cashman: Girardi asked about replacing Carter at 1st base

Richard Mackson / Reuters

The New York Yankees are in the midst of a season-long seven-game losing streak, which - before the Boston Red Sox lost to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday afternoon - had pushed them out of top spot in the American League East for the first time in more than a month.

Although manager Joe Girardi didn't appear too concerned, the skipper did approach general manager Brian Cashman about providing him with a better option at first base instead of current starter Chris Carter, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

"I think he'd like to come up with a better option if we had one, and we don't," Cashman said.

When Girardi was asked why Tyler Austin, who's hitting .287/.357/.494 at Triple-A, wasn't being considered, he said it was "an organizational decision" to stick with Carter, according to Hoch.

Carter was signed to a one-year deal guaranteeing him $3.5 million in the offseason to provide the Yankees with some additional depth at first base behind Greg Bird, who was anticipated as the team's starter after a torrid spring training. Bird, however, has appeared in just 19 games and is on the disabled list with ankle and knee issues.

Although Carter is hitting a paltry .201/.287/.384, Girardi said he was "in line" to stick with the 30-year-old for now, according to ESPN's Andrew Marchand.

The hulking 6-foot-4, 245-pound Carter belted an NL-leading 41 home runs last season, but has just eight in 54 games this year. He's also struck out 66 times in 181 plate appearances.

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