Don't run out to grab Chris Stewart
Yankees backup catcher Chris Stewart has been a pleasant surprise in a limited role, but he will likely be asked to carry a much heavier burden for at least the next month. Starter Francisco Cervelli went down Friday with a fractured right hand, an injury that will cost him at least six weeks after surgery.
The Yankees will likely make a move to fill in the backup spot, but Stewart should get the first crack at the starting role, thanks to his .333 batting average so far. Despite entering a larger role, Stewart is unlikely to make much of an impact for Fantasy owners. He is a career .223 hitter, with five home runs in 372 at-bats. He is playing for his glove, not his bat, and most Fantasy leagues don't reward for caught stealing and pitches successfully blocked in the dirt.
Everyday at-bats will likely expose Stewart as incapable of handling a large share of the catching duties, and it would not be a surprise if he is eventually backing up former top prospect Austin Romine before long. Beyond deep, two-catcher, AL-only Fantasy formats, Stewart is likely not worth your time.
