During Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings in December 2023, New York Yankees Manager Aaron Boone named DJ LeMahieu as the starting everyday third baseman for 2024. At 35, LeMahieu is not only one of the veteran leaders of this team, but he is also the oldest non-first base regular infielder in the majors.[1] LeMahieu’s Yankee tenure has been marked by some of the game’s great high points, multiple Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, and also All-Star appearances, but, and there is always a but, time catches up with every player at some point in their career. Joel Sherman wrote that LeMahieu had a Jekyll and Hyde 2023:
“In the first half, he hit .220 in 305 plate appearances with a .643 OPS, a 7.9 walk percentage, and a 23.3 whiff percentage. In the second half, LeMahieu hit .273 in 257 plate appearances with a .809 OPS, a 14.0 walk percentage, and a 21.0 strikeout percentage.”
While LeMahieu was better offensively in the second half of 2023, the question will be whether he can sustain and improve upon what was essentially a league-average performance. Defensively, I would surmise that fans will see a solid but league average performance as well as LeMahieu navigates the diminishing skills and range that come a player perhaps just beyond his peak.
What have the Yankees done to shore up third base? The depth chart for third base going into Spring Training includes Oswald Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera, Jordan Groshans, and Jorbit Vivas. Peraza struggled at the plate in 2023 and failed to take the third base job when the opportunity was in front of him. Peter Brody of Pinstripealley.com wrote:
“2023 was Peraza’s chance to make the jump from Triple-A and carve out a permanent role for himself on the major league roster. Instead, he looked overmatched facing big league pitching and wound up riding the Scranton shuttle multiple times before finally being handed regular MLB game time with the Yankees out of the playoff picture and with Josh Donaldson no longer taking up space on the roster.” [2]
Peraza will be vying with Jordan Groshans for playing time in 2024. Groshans was drafted 12th in the 2018 MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays and traded to the Miami Marlins in 2022. Groshans spent 17 games with the Marlins in 2023 before being optioned back to Triple-AAA due to mediocre offensive numbers. He hit .262/.308/.311 with one home run in 65 plate appearances. He’s plays all around the infield, but has been most effective at third base.
Oswaldo Cabrera was named as the starting left fielder in 2023 but failed to produce at the plate and ultimately found himself back in a utility role. After a promising campaign in 2022:
“Unfortunately, Cabrera significantly regressed in nearly every area of his game (except for base running). In his official rookie season, he went from posting a 1.5 fWAR and 2.0 bWAR (in just 44 games) in 2022 to being below replacement level in 2023.”[3]
Cabrera played 15 games at third base in 2023. While Cabrera provides depth at third, it is difficult to imagine a scenario where he contributes significantly there.
Jorbit Vivas will also join the fight for a backup role on the bench and at third base. Vivas was acquired when the Yankees traded Trey Sweeney to the Dodgers. He’s a player with a lot of upside and major-league ready defensive skills who needs to solve Triple-AAA pitching. In AA, Vivas hit .280/.391/.436 with 12 home runs, 21 stolen bases and a 123 wRC+ in 491 plate appearances. He then struggled in 26 Triple-A games, batting .225/.339/.294 with a 63 wRC+ in 121 trips to the plate. His power is not impressive, but he hit 14 home runs between Single-A and High-A in 2021, 10 in Double-A in 2022, and 13 between Double-A and Triple-A this past season.[4]
LeMahieu has won the third base job, but at his back, he must feel the footsteps of the younger players and prospects behind him. Will the Yankees regret not upgrading third base with a still-available free agent such as Matt Chapman, a four-time Gold Glove winner? Will one of the bench players break out in Spring Training and wrest the job from LeMahieu? Either way, third base remains a “hot” corner for the Yankees going into the 2024 season.
[1] Joel Sherman, “Yankees ignoring glaring DJ LeMahieu concerns is a major risk,” NYPost.com, 2/15/24.
[2] Peter Brody, “Yankees 2023 Roster Report Card: Oswald Peraza,” pinstripealley.com, 11/9/20232.
[3] Joe Najarian, “2023 New York Yankees in Review: Oswaldo Cabrera,” SI.com, 10/10/23.
[4] Andres Chavez, “Jorbit Vivas was more than just a throw-in for the Yankees,” pinstripealley.com, 12/13/23.
