Who Will Be the Yankees’ 3rd Baseman?
Spring Training games are underway for the New York Yankees, and while there is optimism surrounding the team after what is viewed as a good pivot from losing out on Juan Soto, the question regarding third base is still present.
Many have tried to connect St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Yankees in trade rumors this offseason. However, as YES Network insider Jack Curry indicated throughout the offseason, he reiterated once again during the first Spring Training broadcast that the Yankees have no interest.
Barring something unforeseen, the Yankees will run with either DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, or Oswald Peraza as the third baseman, with a combination of those three being in play as well.
PHOTO: Kim Klement Neitzel/Imagn Images
LeMahieu struggled mightily in 2024, and there is not much optimism among fans that he will have a resurgence in 2025. He is on the books for $15 million a year in 2025 and 2026, so the Yankees could be incentivized to play him at least part of the time. However, he was placed on the injured list down the stretch in 2024 when Jasson Dominguez was promoted. Many believe that was a “phantom” injury for LeMahieu at the time.
Cabrera is likely viewed as the favorite for the majority of playing time among fans. He is known as more of a super-utility type of player who can play all four infield spots and both corner outfield spots as well. The Yankees could prefer him in that role, and we will cover how they could do that later.
As a player, Cabrera is more likely to be a platoon type of player. As a switch hitter, he had a 105 wRC+ as a left-handed batter against right-handed pitching in 2024, compared to his 94 wRC+ as a right-handed batter against left-handed pitching. Cabrera could be platooned with either LeMahieu or Peraza at third. If the Yankees decide to go that way, Cabrera would still get most of the at-bats because most pitchers are right-handed.
If the Yankees decide that they would like Cabrera to be the super-utility man, Peraza might be the choice at third base full-time. With him being a right-handed hitter, there is likely no use in platooning him with LeMahieu at third.
Over the years, the Yankees have not demonstrated that they believe in Peraza to be a good major league player. However, he was once a top 100 prospect, and a key factor in why he might get run at third base in the early going is that he has no minor league options left, according to FanGraphs. In prior seasons, the Yankees have either kept or optioned Peraza to the minors when it could have made sense to give him a run in the majors. In 2025, the Yankees will not have that flexibility. Peraza will be either on the Yankees’ major league roster or out of the organization altogether.
Essentially, it is now or never for the Yankees to see if Peraza can be useful to them in the majors.
They might not believe he is a quality big-league player, but the Yankees likely have the incentive to find out if he can help them before moving on.
Peraza’s calling card as a prospect was his defense at shortstop, and he was in the running to be the shortstop in 2023 before losing out to Anthony Volpe.
If that evaluation is accurate, Peraza might be the best defensive option out of the three, and it would put less pressure on him to perform offensively.
The Yankees need to avoid third base being a black hole until the trade deadline.
The best way to do that might be a platoon, but it might also be unwise to discount the possibility of Peraza finally getting a chance to prove himself as an everyday player.
PHOTO: Kim Klement Neitzel/Imagn Images
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