Since returning to the Yankees after a month on the injury list due to tilting pressure, Jazz Chisholm Jr. Has appeared in 29 games and played three bases in each game. The versatile infielder/outfielder recently expressed a team-first approach, saying he would play anywhere, but noted that his preference was second base. Now, this transition is underway as a manager Aaron Boone Tell Talkin’Yanks that Chisholm will be back to second base tonight. Oswald Peraza Boone added that he will play third base tonight.
This is a noteworthy change as it allows the Yankees to set better defense capabilities while also having the potential to tilt their hands by the looming trade deadline. Chisholm is a capable but unpopular defender in the hot corner. He graduates more effectively in the second base. Peraza hasn’t scored this season, but has earned a strong defensive mark for his gloves in the hot corners. At the same time, senior infielder DJ Lemahieu At second base (especially relative to his brilliant peak) provides slightly below average offense and lower defense. He hasn’t recorded an inning at third base this year.
The Yankees are generally expected to seek infield help by July 31 before the trade deadline. While it is always possible for them to bring in another baseman and move Chisholm back to third base, early transfers to his more natural position seem to indicate a preference for Chisholm to stay there. Boone admits that his preference is to keep Chisholm at second base for the time being and to avoid his bounce back and forth between the two positions. As Yankees read the trade market carefully, third base upgrades are a more natural goal.
The Yankees have been linked to Colorado’s Ryan McMahon and Pittsburgh’s Isiah Kiner-Falefa, among other possible third-base targets. They are supposedly outstanding suitors in Arizona Eugenio Suárez If he could use it, but D-backs were on the periphery of NL wildcard chase, GM Mike Hazen said he hoped to avoid a sell-off. Their direction – and the availability of players like Suarez, Zach Gallen,,,,, Josh Naylor and Merrill Lynch Kelly – It will largely boil down to how the Rattlesnakes perform in the next few weeks.
In the case of how the temporary Yankees handle third base, it is not clear. Boone is only committed to playing there tonight Peraza and said otherwise the post will “stay liquid” and Chisholm sticks to second base. Lemahieu has extensive career experience at Hot Corner, but is only a second baseman in 2025. Peraza is a powerful defender, but only has a .154/.225/.262 batting line, although it appears in a relatively small 142 plate sample and has sporadic, sporadic, secondary, frequent game times. Oswaldo Cabrera Due to an ankle fracture, it still has not appeared for a long time. Jorbit Vivas Played third base earlier this season but returned to Triple-A and had a tough down there (in his last 15 games.175/.309/.211).
The Yankees have also introduced several veterans over the past week. Jeimer Candelario He was a high-color offensive performer with the Tigers for four years before becoming a free agent in the 2023-24 offseason. His three-year contract deal with the Reds was not eliminated at all, and Cincinnati released him on June 29. Candelario signed with the Yankees over the weekend. On the other side of the spectrum, Nicky Lopez is a full gloved personal character with versatility to handle shortstop, second or third base. He chose a minor league deal with the D-Backs on July 1 and signed with the Yankees a few days later.
