If the Yankees sit Brett Gardner, Andrew McCutchen sounds ready

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman acquired outfielder Andrew McCutchen, the 2013 National League MVP, before the August 31, 2018 (8/31/18) waiver trade deadline in a trade with the San Francisco Giants.

OAKLAND — Andrew McCutchen last played left field in 2009, at Triple-A Indianapolis. He’s never done it in the majors.

When he took fly balls there this week at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, he said it was “just like riding a bike.”

“If I can adjust to right field in San Francisco, I can adjust to anything,” he said in the clubhouse there Wednesday. “That’s the way I look at it.”

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The Yankees will likely call on McCutchen to play left field at some point this season, and it could happen as early as Friday when they start a three-game set with the Mariners at Safeco Field.

At least that’s what manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday. He said Seattle’s likelihood of pitching veteran lefty James Paxton could push him to bench regular left fielder Brett Gardner, a lefty swinger, in favor of McCutchen.

“We go to Seattle, obviously, I think we get Paxton the first day,” Boone said. “If I want to get Gardy a day off against a lefty, to have that option, I’d like to at least have it. We’ll probably see him at least get some work over there the next couple of days, just trying to get him a little more comfortable with those angles over there, but to make it at least an option.”

McCutchen said Boone told him when the Yankees acquired him from the Giants just before the waiver trade deadline to be prepared to play some left field.

McCutchen, the 2013 National League MVP, had only played center field in the majors before San Francisco switched him to right field this season. McCutchen played nine seasons in Pittsburgh.

“I guess the only adjustment for myself is the angles,” McCutchen said. “Balls are going to be the opposite way as far as fade and all that stuff. But that’s not a tough thing. It’s just, at the end of the day, it’s all about catching the ball. The way it went, it went good, and I’m just planning on getting some more work out there just in case I ever am in left.”

When Aaron Judge (fractured right wrist) returns from the disabled list, the Yankees will have to get creative to find at-bats for McCutchen. They could look to him to split time with Gardner in left field, possibly as part of a platoon.

McCutchen sounds prepared.

“It’s not a big adjustment,” he said. “It’s just about going out there and playing and getting the work where you need to get the work.”

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.