I tossed around the idea of Thames transitioning to first last year when he was still a prospect. At this point, it just seems like it would be good for him to have positional versatility. He probably isn't quite good enough to cut it as an everyday player but he'd make a nice bat of the bench if there was more than one position where you could play him. I like his bat but I just don't think it's quite good enough to make up for consistently poor fielding performances.

Why didn't we pull a Seattle Mariners-like move this spring for Montero and convert him to first base?

I think a package of McGowan, Litsch, Farina, Santos, and Cecil could have snagged him.

How does that Pineda trade look for Yankees now?

If any player is converted into being a first baseman, it should be Arencebia, and then there would be room for both Arencebia and d'Arnaud on the ML roster. (Lots of catchers move to 1st base.)

Sadly, I doubt Lind has much trade value. He's turned into another Lyle Overbay.

New York wanted a ML-ready young starter, not a package of solid yet mediocre arms. Unless we gave up Romero, there wasn't really a way for the Jays to be a match.

"I think a package of McGowan, Litsch, Farina, Santos, and Cecil could have snagged him."

Well it's like they knew Pineda would get injured so there's no way they would have taken that package instead. They really were looking to get one impact starting pitching not a bunch of fringy guys, a minor league reliever and a closer. The closest comparison to Pineda would have probably been Alvarez. Maybe Alvarez and a GOOD prospect would have gotten it done but I still think the Yankees would have went with Pineda.

Why can't he become a better or at least equivalent 1b in terms of defense? Do you remember how god awful Lind looked in LF? If Lind can make that position adjustment then I think that Thames can make it also. However I don't think that this will happen so it's kind of irrelevant.

Lind had coordination. Thames just looks completely awkward the way he fields and even catches the ball.

Thames doesn't have the 1B experience that Lind had. His odds of making the transition are a bit longer but I do agree that Lind gives reason for hope. Clearly bad outfielders can become solid 1B. Of course as you said, it's not going to happen. Even if Thames were sent to the minors , the Jays wouldn't want to have him compete with either McDade or Cooper for playing time. In fact they kept McDade at AA so the two wouldn't have to compete for playing time with each other much less Eric Thames.

"If any player is converted into being a first baseman, it should be Arencebia, and then there would be room for both Arencebia and d'Arnaud on the ML roster."

I don't think Arencibia's bat plays anywhere else but catcher, and only there if his defense improves.

You know we had this exact same issue with a out fielder that is playing first base right now. Lind was a converted out fielder with crappy defence, not sure why ppl assume Thames could not make the same transition, as I remember ppl lost it when that happened to as far as Lind defence foes he has done quite a good job

Not that I'm advocating giving up on Lind, but

For all the people suggesting that a poor corner outfielder can't learn to play 1st base.
That's exactly what we did with Lind. In fact, he was even worse than Thames out there.

your advocating using Logic, against people who have none

To people on this forum

Lind is an allstar firstbaseman ( Two and a half years of .700 OPS which would be okay if he was a gold glove shortstop, but for a First Baseman those might be all time worst numbers)
Snider is a future superstar (Despite failing miserably for years in MLB)

And you cant change their minds, even if Thames hits .300 Snider is always better no matter what. Snider will be bald, and 35 and they will still be like OMG SNIDER IS KILLING IT IN JAPAN OMG

"You know we had this exact same issue with a out fielder that is playing first base right now."

Lind played 1B in college, so it wasn't so much a transition for Lind to a new position, but rather a reacquaintance with a previous position.

And yes, Lind wasn't great in left, but if I'm remembering correctly, it was more due to his lack of athleticism than his lack of instincts.

In summary, they both have their limitations in left, but I don't think we're comparing apples to apples here.

ofcourse we are not comparing apples to apples

We are comparing an aging 1B with a bad back (Coming from the off season) with two and half years of OPSING around .700 with a young healthy Thames, who continues to show potentiol with the bat, and is already OPSING a hundred points higher.

There is no comparison. two and a half years of being the worse producing first baseman in the majors

He has a better bat. I think he has the potential to have a much better bat then he showed so far in his career. 1st base is maybe the easiest position.

"We are comparing an aging 1B with a bad back (Coming from the off season) with two and half years of OPSING around .700 with a young healthy Thames, who continues to show potentiol with the bat, and is already OPSING a hundred points higher."

The concept of Thames playing first should not be based on whether or not he would be better than Lind, it should be based on whether it's a good idea to move Thames to 1B.

Small sample size aside, Thames is out OPSing Lind this season by about 60 points, not 100. This does not mean that Thames is hitting well, it means that Lind has been awful. Lind has played well defensively at 1B. Thames (as far as I know) has not had any meaningful time playing 1B.

Thames is not an embarassment at the plate, but he has been in the field so far. Any potential in his bat is only valuable to us in a role where he doesn't subtract value with his horrible defense.

Thames' current OPS is .718. How much higher does it have to be to make it worth living with him in a defensive role?