The Yankees Need To Add Another Infielder

The New York Yankees have been having a very productive offseason. Despite losing Juan Soto to the Mets, they’ve improved their team in multiple ways. New York bolstered their pitching staff, added athleticism, and made some much-needed improvements defensively. However, more needs to be done on offense. The Yankees need to add another infielder this offseason to have a lineup that can make a postseason run.

Good Offseason But More Work Needs To Be Done

It has been a very productive offseason for the New York Yankees. Despite losing Juan Soto, the Yankees have been able to improve their team in other ways. Almost right after Soto departed, the team immediately bolstered their starting rotation by signing former Braves ace Max Fried. They then augmented the backend of their bullpen by trading for a proven closer in Devin Williams. The Yankees later added more athleticism into the lineup by acquiring Cody Bellinger from the Cubs. New York most recently made some defensive improvements by adding former Gold Glove-winning first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt also looked more like himself offensively in the second half of last season after an uncharacteristically slow start. While all these moves filled needs, there is still more for the team to do before Spring Training.

The Yankees must fill holes at either second or third base. However, they would only need to acquire one player. Depending on what position the team decides to address will determine where Jazz Chisholm Jr. plays. Chisholm Jr. started playing third base last season after being traded at the deadline by the Miami Marlins. However, he has also appeared in 158 games in his career at second base. While Jazz Chisholm Jr. figures to be slotted at either second or third base, the question now will be the Yankees’ other infielder.

DJ LeMahieu Is Past His Prime

The only other infielders on the Yankees’ current roster are DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Oswald Peraza. The Yankees shouldn’t head into the season with the thinking that LeMahieu can still be an everyday player. The former batting title champion has been ravaged by injuries in the past four seasons. Since 2021, LeMahieu has only played 478 games. Last season, the 36-year-old had a career-worst season in many major statistical categories.

Injuries caused him to only appear in 67 games in 2024 where he only slashed .204/.269/.259 with just two homers, 26 RBI, and a .527 OPS. LeMahieu’s career-worst injury-plagued season is the reason the team acquired Jazz Chisholm. at the deadline to play third base. Whenever the former all-star has been healthy, he’s looked like a shell of himself on the field. The Yankees would be foolish to think that DJ LeMahieu will suddenly be healthy and able to play every day again.

Oswaldo Cabrera Isn’t An Everyday Player And Has Too Much Verasatility

Oswaldo Cabrera has proven to be a very versatile player. In three seasons with the team, Cabrera has shown he can play all infield positions except catcher as well as left and right field. However, the Yankees already tried to pencil his name into the lineup every day in 2023 and it was a disaster. The homegrown Yankee also thrived in the role he had last season. The Yankees would be making a mistake by restricting the 25-year-old utility player to just second or third base. Injuries are going to happen, and the team will also want to always have Cabrera’s versatility available.

Oswald Peraza Has Yet To Show He Is Capable Of Playing

Oswald Peraza has appeared in 74 games across three seasons with the Yankees. The 24-year-old has constantly been up and down between triple-A and the big club. Across parts of three seasons, he’s only slashed .216/.297/.315 with four homers, 17 RBI, and a .612 OPS. Before the 2023 season, Peraza had an opportunity to win the starting shortstop job before losing it to Anthony Volpe. While the former top prospect can play second and third base, He has yet to prove that he can play at the big-league level.

There Are Plenty Of Solutions Available

There are plenty of routes the Yankees can go to acquire a much-needed infielder. Free agents like Alex Bregman, Yoan Moncada, Ha-Seong Kim, and Brendan Rogers could all fit the bill. The team could also trade for the likes of Ryan McMahon, Luis Arraez, Brendan Donovan, and Matt Vierling. All these options are significantly better than heading into the 2025 season with either DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, or Oswald Peraza playing every day.

Can’t Call It An Offseason Yet

While the Yankees have done some good things this offseason, they aren’t done yet. The team still needs to add another infielder and DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Oswald Peraza aren’t the answers. LeMahieu is a shell of himself, Cabrera isn’t an everyday player, and his versatility is too valuable to sacrifice. Oswald Peraza hasn’t proven he can stay around. There are plenty of options via free agency or trade that would be much better solutions. It would be a bigger mistake than trading for Josh Donaldson to not add another infielder.

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