The New York Yankees are almost always a top team to watch at the trade deadline, but that will be magnified in 2025.
Not only do the Yankees have an obvious shortage of starting pitchers, but their infield depth took a massive hit earlier this week. Third baseman/utility player Oswaldo Cabrera fractured his ankle in a scary moment that saw the 26-year-old taken off the field in an ambulance.
With DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Jorbit Vivas now trying to cover third and second base, it seems paramount for the Yankees to eventually bring in some infield help. But who could be available that would suit New York's needs?
In a big of a long-shot idea, one Yankees insider points out that a division rival's former batting champion could be available.
On Tuesday, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic named Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Díaz, who played a lot of third base earlier in his career, as a possible trade fit for New York in the wake of Cabrera's injury.
"The Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Díaz (career .800 OPS) will be a free agent after this season," Kuty wrote. "He’s being paid $12 million this year as part of a team option, and he’s hit just .238 with six homers and a .691 OPS this season."
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The elephant in the room here is that Díaz really isn't a third baseman anymore. He played 102 games there in 2022, then six in 2023, and has only played first base and designated hitter ever since.
Plus, at 33 years old, the muscle-bound Díaz doesn't profile as the type of quick-twitch athlete teams want at the hot corner these days.
There's certainly still life in the 2023 American League batting champion's bat. But of all the fits one could envision for these Yankees, Díaz isn't the cleanest.
More MLB: Phillies are 'tremendous fit' for $8.7 million Orioles trade chip, per insider