When the New York Yankees chose not to extend an offer to retain Gleyber Torres, their seven-year second baseman who signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Detroit Tigers in late December, it was widely assumed that general manager Brian Cashman would seek a replacement to fill the void.
Throughout the offseason, the Yankees were rumored to be considering several infield options, such as former San Diego Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brandon Lowe, and Whit Merrifield, who split his 2024 season between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. However, the extent of the Yankees’ interest in these players remains uncertain. What is certain is that the offseason has concluded, spring training has begun, and the Yankees have yet to address the gap left by Torres. According to Alexander Wilson, founder of Empire Sports Media, this oversight could prove costly for the team. In a recent article, Wilson cautioned that the Yankees are “one injury away from devastation in the infield.”
The Yankees now appear poised to fill the second base role with Jazz Chisholm Jr., who was acquired from the Miami Marlins at last year’s trade deadline to play third base. Despite his versatility, having previously played outfield, second base, and shortstop, Chisholm’s primary challenge is not his defensive skills but his durability. Over his five-year career, the injury-prone Chisholm has surpassed 100 games in a season only twice, with a career-high 147 appearances in 2024 split between two teams. Wilson noted that injuries have historically limited Chisholm’s availability and consistency, and the Yankees are relying on him to maintain last year’s durability. If Chisholm is sidelined, the infield situation could quickly become precarious.
Moreover, shifting Chisholm back to second base leaves the Yankees with a makeshift solution at third base, where DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Oswaldo Cabrera are expected to compete for playing time. Should injuries arise at either second or third base, the Yankees would face a scramble for solutions, with limited internal options available.
Wilson’s proposed solution? Brendan Rodgers, the former Colorado Rockies second baseman who was non-tendered by the team despite being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 draft. Rodgers, 28, remains a free agent, and while Spotrac estimates his market value at $56.4 million over four years, his release by the Rockies in November and lack of interest from other teams suggest he could be signed for a much lower cost.
