Manager of the New York Yankees, Aaron Boone, went on his weekly interview with Talkin Yanks on Tuesday and said that he will be moving Jazz Chisholm back to second base. He also stated that he will be looking at Oswald Peraza and DJ LeMahieu at third base moving forward.
In the interview, Boone left room for future changes with Chisholm, assuming that anything can happen with the trade deadline approaching. In the offseason, the Yankees were committed to playing him exclusively at second base. That changed after Oswaldo Cabrera got hurt and LeMahieu returned from injury, the Yankees responded by shifting Chisholm back to third. After going 3-7 in their last ten games, falling out of first place in the AL East, and quickly spiraling, Boone decides to play him at his best position.
With recent injuries to Clarke Schmidt (forearm tightness), Ryan Yarbrough (oblique strain), and Fernando Cruz (oblique strain), along with ineffectiveness from certain members of the pitching staff, the Yankees are now in the market for a starting pitcher and bullpen arms. In addition, they have expressed a desire for a right-handed bat, preferably a third or second baseman.
Unfortunately, in this world of three wild-card teams making the playoffs, not many teams feel out of the race and are desperate to sell. In the American League, five teams are within five games of the third wild-card spot, and the National League has four teams within 4.5 games. This means that the Yankees have to trade water until teams either fall out of the race or decide to sell off pieces.
With the desire to play Chisholm exclusively at second, it is no mystery that the Yankees will eyeball the third base market for potential options. There is a range of long-shot options and more realistic situations that Brian Cashman can surely entertain.
Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals and Ryan McMahon of the Colorado Rockies are unlikely options due to money owed or contract lengths. Arenado has the remainder of this season’s $32 million and is then owed $27 million in 2026 and $15 million in 2027. McMahon is owed the rest of $12 million this year and $16 million in 2026 and 2027.
Eugenio Suarez and Yoan Moncada are both under expiring contracts for fringe playoff teams in the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Angels. Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates is owed money for more years than the other names listed, making seven million in 2026 and 2027 before jumping to eight million in 2028 and 2029.
The Yankees face big needs on their pitching staff heading into the All-Star break, but to even out their lineup, third base is the place to go. There are many market options, and it will be interesting to see what Brian Cashman decides to do. You have players with multiple years of control, while also having expiring contracts that may appear more attractive.
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