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.