The New York Yankees were slated to enter the season with DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera sharing the hot corner. LeMahieu, who figured to get a majority of the workload, is coming off a lackluster season highlighted by injuries. However, LeMahieu injured his calf during a spring training game against the Houston Astros, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
LeMahieu’s latest injury could show the Yankees that relying on the 36-year-old may not be a recipe for success. Manager Aaron Boone described LeMahieu’s injury as “at least a little concerning,” according to Hoch. If LeMahieu starts the season on the injured list, the Yankees may be forced to finally add an upgrade to their infield.
The Yankees could simply turn to Cabrera to play a larger role, but he slashed just .247/.296/.365 last season. The Yankees had been rumored to be in the market for a third baseman and may finally have the push they need to add one. St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado seems like an obvious choice, but, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees are not interested in him, citing his payroll as one of the reasons.
Perhaps a surprising, and cheaper, option is Ke’Bryan Hayes of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rumors of Hayes requesting a trade earlier this offseason were confirmed as false by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. But Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay revealed on the “Michael Kay Show” that Hayes’ father, Charlie Hayes, is unhappy with his development in Pittsburgh.
“Ke’Bryan Hayes is a defensive magician at third base,” Kay said on Jan. 15. “His hitting is not what it should be, but he’s obviously not happy in Pittsburgh. I talked to Charlie when the Yankees were in Pittsburgh a couple of years ago, and he was like scratching his head about some of the things they do in Pittsburgh with the hitters. Whatever the case may be, if I’m the Yankees, I’m calling the Pirates and go, ‘What do you want?’”
Hayes signed an eight-year, $70 million extension in 2022. He is a younger alternative to Arenado who would not put too much stress on the Yankees’ payroll. He is also under club control through 2030. He would demand multiple top 30 prospects in return but would give the Yankees a reliable player to round out their infield.
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