The Yankees have experienced familiar problems heading into Opening Day 2024, with DJ LeMahieu suffering from a bruised foot. While Oswaldo Cabrera or Jorbit Vivas appeared as potential candidates, the Yankees’ front office has chosen to cast their net wider, exploring options outside the organization. By doing so, the club has solved the additional problems of carrying three catchers on their 26-man roster and making space on the 40-man roster. In a three-way trade, the Yankees acquired infielder Jon Berti while sending Ben Rortvedt to the Rays and the club’s number 26 prospect, John Cruz, to the Marlins.
What To Expect From Jon Berti
The 34-year-old utility man can play third base, second base, and shortstop and has experience in all three outfield positions. He hit .294 last season, carried an OPS of .344, and slugged .405 in 424 plate appearances. Berti’s low strikeout rate of 18.2% in 2023 further solidifies his reliability within the Yankee lineup. While it remains uncertain whether the team plans to deploy Berti as the opening-day starter at third base, his track record speaks volumes. Over his five-year professional career, Berti has demonstrated his value with five defensive runs saved at the hot corner. Combined with his offensive production, this is the Yankees’ most probable move, in addition to allowing the team more flexibility with Oswaldo Cabrera. Berti’s sprint speed is also worth mentioning. At 29.4 feet per second, Berti would be the fastest third-baseman in the league and the fastest player on the Yankees’ active roster. While he only stole 16 bases last year, he led the league in steals in 2022 with 41. Berti’s addition also provides a stable option for the Yankees infield since he will remain under team control through 2025.
