The Yankees head into spring training with their third base situation still up in the air. DJ LeMahieu’s looking like the frontrunner, but he’ll need to fend off Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza for the starting job.
Manager Aaron Boone’s throwing his support behind LeMahieu, who’s trying to bounce back from a rough 2023. “I’m not going to put anything past a healthy DJ LeMahieu and his ability to hit,” Boone said. “This is a great hitter who’s had some tough, nagging injuries that have cut into that greatness.”
It’s been a challenging couple of years for the former batting champ. LeMahieu’s 2023 campaign was cut short by a September hip injury, limiting him to just 67 games. When he was on the field, he struggled to find his rhythm, hitting .204/.269/.259 with two homers and 26 RBI. His OPS+ dropped to 51 – way below league average.
The foot problems that’ve plagued LeMahieu aren’t going away quietly either. He’s dealt with serious foot injuries in two of the last three seasons, raising questions about his durability at 35 years old.
But here’s the thing – when LeMahieu’s healthy, he’s shown he can still be that contact-first hitter the Yankees need. The way Boone sees it, there’s still plenty left in the tank if they can just keep him on the field.
The Yankees seem committed to giving LeMahieu first crack at the hot corner this spring. What makes this interesting is they’ve got some intriguing alternatives in Cabrera and Peraza if things don’t work out. Both are younger, more athletic options who could push for playing time if LeMahieu stumbles or his health issues resurface.
From where I’m sitting, the Yankees are betting on LeMahieu’s track record and hoping a healthy offseason will help him rediscover his form. The next few weeks of spring training should tell us a lot about whether that’s the right call.
