The Yankees face yet another infield challenge as DJ LeMahieu’s body has betrayed him again. The 36-year-old veteran tweaked his calf muscle during Saturday’s spring training matchup with the Astros, forcing him to the sidelines indefinitely.
LeMahieu downplayed the severity but acknowledged he’ll miss time as spring training ramps up. It’s a familiar story for the infielder who’s battled injuries the past two seasons. For now, the Yankees will turn to internal options Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas to fill the void.
This latest setback has renewed calls for the Yankees to look outside the organization for help at what’s become their most glaring roster weakness. While the front office seems determined to hover near the $301 million luxury tax threshold, there’s one potential long-term solution worth considering.
Newsweek’s Aaliyan Mohammed suggests the Yankees should pursue Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes via trade.
“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,” Mohammed wrote.
What makes this particularly interesting is the connection to Yankees history. Hayes’ father Charlie was a key contributor to the 1996 World Series championship team. Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay recently recalled a conversation with the elder Hayes that adds fuel to the speculation.
“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?'” Kay said.
While a Hayes trade remains unlikely, LeMahieu’s latest injury highlights the urgency of addressing this infield situation. The Yankees have championship aspirations, and it’s getting harder to ignore this roster hole.
The front office clearly wants to manage their luxury tax situation, but at some point, fielding a complete, championship-caliber roster might require exceeding those financial guardrails. LeMahieu’s unreliability might finally be the tipping point that forces their hand.
