Boone LeMahieu Will Be Yankees Third Baseman In 202

As trade rumblings surrounding star Padres outfielder and the Yankees look to be , theres other significant news in the Bronx as well. Manager announced at the Winter Meetings this morning that veteran infielder will line up as the teams primary third baseman next season ( ). Boone indicated yesterday that an outside acquisition at third base wasnt likely, as the team felt covered with internal options. Todays statement is a more forceful declaration of that likelihood. LeMahieu, 35, is entering the fourth season of a six-year $90MM contract. Hes bounced around the diamond since originally arriving in New York in the 2018-19 Luke Kennard Jersey offseason, spending considerable time at every infield position other than shortstop. Third base was his primary position in 2023, however, as he logged nearly 600 innings there and turned in a sound defensive effort in the eyes of Defensive Runs Saved (3), Ultimate Zone Rating (3.2) and Outs Above Average (3). The remainder of the Yankees infield looks largely set. will return to man first base, while is entering his final arbitration season and lined up as the primary second baseman. had an up-and-down rookie season at shortstop, ultimately putting together a 20-20 season with good defense but an underwhelming .209/.283/.383 batting line on the whole. Prospect gives the Yankees some additional depth at any position other than first base, but with no clear path to a starting role at present, he could open the season in a utility role, covering multiple spots on the diamond and spelling the regulars. (Peraza is out of minor league options and thus cannot be sent to Triple-A.) The versatility offered by both Peraza and LeMahieu would allow the Yankees to rather seamle sly cover an absence anywhere in the infield. The 2023 season wasnt LeMahieus best at the plate far from it but he still turned in a roughly average (by measure of wRC+) .243/.327/.390 batting line with 15 home runs, 22 doubles and three triples. The veteran infielder walked at a strong 10.7% clip, the second-highest mark of his career, but also fanned at a career-worst 22.2%. LeMahieu didnt expand the zone any more than he did in seasons prior he actually improved his chase rate from 2022 to 2023 but his contact rate on both strikes and balls off the plate dipped. LeMahieu entered the 2023 season with a lifetime 92.7% contact rate on swings at pitches in the zone but saw that number drop to 89.8% last year. His contact rate on the relatively rare chases off the plate was more concerning; LeMahieu entered 2023 with a career 76.1% contact rate on balls off the plate (including a nearly 80% mark from 2020-22) but made contact on just 70.2% of such offerings last year. He remained productive against fastballs (four-seamers and sinkers alike) but saw his numbers against opponents sliders, sweepers and cutters take a big hit. Time will tell whether thats the beginning of a more alarming trend or simply a one-year aberration. With regard to the remainder of the offseason, LeMahieus formal anointment as the Yankees everyday third baseman is of note. The Yankees already from the archrival Red Sox and are ostensibly deep in talks for the aforementioned Soto. That would constitute a major revamp of the outfield alignment, but it seems therell be more continuity in the infield. Torres has been floated as a po sible trade candidate at various points, and Perazas presence could embolden the Yankees to make some kind of move if the right opportunity presented itself. But Torres was also the teams second-best hitter behind Judge this past season, and the Yankees would surely only swap him out if it meant acquiring immediate MLB help elsewhere (be it in the rotation, behind the plate or po sibly in the pen). Isaiah Stewart Jersey