Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees have been powering along this offseason, filling cavities in their roster. The Bronx Bombers have some infield concerns to address, one being at third base.
The hot corner has been a key area of interest since the World Series ended. Analysts and baseball heads across the world took exception to how the Yankees went about employing third base.
Cashman and management thought they could make a quick fix earlier this year by acquiring a utility-type player to fill in at third base. The Yankees traded for Jazz Chisholm Jr. on July 27th, sending three prospects to the Miami Marlins in return.
Yankees Should Improve Third Base This Offseason
Chisholm Should Be Repositioned
The Miami Marlins decided to give up Chisholm Jr. in response to a horrible sell-off season they had. The Yankees welcomed him with open arms and they had strong intentions to use his utility offerings.
Chisholm Jr. was assigned to play third base, sidelining young third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera. The issue with this move was that Chisholm Jr is not a natural third baseman.
The former Marlin had only played the hot corner for 45 games. This was in one season, 2024, when traded to New York. That’s less than half of a season within five years in the Major Leagues.
However, Chisholm held down the position with honor. His output at the hot corner was aggressive and fearless. However, there were times that revealed his true experience at the position.
He split his infield time specifically between shortstop and second base, and his outfield time was mostly in center field. The Yankees should find a situation where they could keep Chisholm Jr. at the second base spot.
The Alex Bregman Sweepstakes
Speculation is flying high regarding veteran free agent third baseman Alex Bregman. The Yankees are reported as having extreme interest in Bregman. If the Yankees are serious, they’d better act quickly and be generous.
The latest talks about Bregman include interest from the Detroit Tigers and the offseason winners (so far), the New York Mets. The main two teams that have expressed serious interest are the Boston Red Sox and the Yankees.
When it comes to recent trade offers, New York has been stingy with the prospect talks. Having missed out on a trade for Bregman’s Houston teammate Kyle Tucker, the club did not offer any of their top 30 prospects, and would not budge with Luis Gil, the right-handed pitcher that Houston expected in the deal.
Possible Third Base Options
By the looks of it, Bregman could be off the shelf very soon. The Yankees need to prepare for this to happen, and possibly not be on the receiving end of it. That being said, what are the options available?
3B Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are willing to part ways with eight-time All-Star infielder Nolan Arenado. The veteran infielder has three years remaining on his contract and is set to become a free agent in 2028.
St. Louis’ executives have accepted the idea that they may not be postseason contenders in 2025. This leads to the decision to potentially deal Arenado and gain for the future. The Yankees may be among the teams interested in the infielder due to their needs.
The Yankees need to address third base, and Arenado is a third baseman proper. He did not specifically list the Yankees on his list of trade destinations, but it is assumed that if the need is there, it’s quite possible.
Arenado is also open to possibly moving to first base to facilitate a trade. He had a .272 batting average with a .325 on-base percentage and a .394 slugging percentage in 2024. He smacked 157 hits, 16 home runs, and 71 RBI.
The decorated infielder has accumulated 10 Gold Glove Awards and five Silver Slugger Awards. Arenado brings value to both the offense and the defense and will contribute towards a World Series chase.
Looking from Within
If all trade attempts or ideas fail, the club could give the benefit of the doubt to their current utility infielder, Oswaldo Cabrera. Cabrera plays the position of third base and is protected on the 40-man roster. The Yankees should assess Cabrera through the spring season and determine his readiness for the job.
Cabrera brings value in tools and athleticism. He switch-hits with a heavy contact approach and the ability to get on base. Cabrera would be a good seven or eight hitter, creating movement on the bases lower in the order.
