We are just one week away from the start of MLB Spring Training, and the Yankees' 2023 infield remains in question. Pitchers and catchers are set to report to Tampa, FL. by February 16 with fielders arriving just a few days later on February 20, and still, there are so many questions left unanswered regarding the infield makeup.
Hot corner hot takes
Who can we expect to see on the hot corner? This is one of the biggest questions heading into the 2023 season. Many fans are convinced 34-year-old DJ LeMahieu is the guy for the third base job this year. Despite nearly earning a Gold Glove during the 2022 season, the Yankees cannot afford a repeat year of veteran 37-year-old Josh Donaldson’s struggles at the plate, at least not according to fans.
In taking a comparative look at the 2022 season, Donaldson finished with a .222/.308/.374 in 132 games. LeMahieu finished at .261/.357/.377 in 125 games while nursing a fractured toe. In an interview with Yahoo! Sports, Yankees’ hitting coach Dillon Lawson said, "He looks healthy, whether it’s in the weight room or on defense or hitting. He’s pushing it with everything, and he’s able to do it. If you didn’t know how last year ended, you wouldn’t think anything of it, but we all saw that.” Despite having suffered various injuries across the past two seasons, fans feel more confident with this route.
Unfortunately, Donaldson carries a hefty price tag at $21 million, and unless the Yankees are willing to eat a big slice of that, he’s not going anywhere. With that in mind, the most realistic scenario at this point may be to keep Donaldson on the bench for depth.
No shortage of shortstops
Perhaps an even bigger question is: who will be the everyday shortstop? The Yankees have no shortage of potential schemes with their 2022 shortstops Isaiah Kiner-Falefa (IKF), Oswald Peraza, and MLB’s fifth-ranked prospect Anthony Volpe all vying for the job.
One thing to keep in mind with respect to Peraza is that if Peraza were to be sent back down to the Minors at the start of the 2023 season, he will have expired all of his options, and can therefore only be brought back up. In my opinion, it would be wise to start him in the Majors and reserve the option to send him back down should there be a need down the road.
Given Peraza’s small sample of stats from the 2022 season at 18 games played, it’s tough to take a comparative look at the two, but we know one thing: the Yankees looked to the Baby Bomber to step into a big role during the postseason through IFK’s struggles.
If the Yankees chosen formula turns out to be Peraza and Volpe sharing the job, the Yankees will need to offload Kiner-Falefa in a trade.
What we know
What we do know is that the Yankees avoided an arbitration hearing with second basemen Gleyber Torres agreeing to a $9.95 million, one-year contract. With Torres returning at second, that leaves DJ LeMahieu open to fill the void at third, and of course, LeMahieu can be shuffled between first, second, and third base if need be. Additionally, the Yankees extended a two-year contract with a club option in the third year to first basemen Anthony Rizzo. Rizzo will make $34 million over the next two seasons plus a club option for 2025 that includes a $6 million buyout. Yankees' catcher Jose Trevino returns on a one-year, $2.36 million contract, and catcher Kyle Higashioka, who will share time with Trevino, returns on a one-year deal as well.
Spring Training tell-alls
Spring Training is going to be an exploration phase of great magnitude for the Yankees this year. The Yankees have a lot of formulas to experiment before they can nail down the perfect recipe for a successful 2023 season. The Yankees open the spring season on the road against the reigning NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies.
On-Deck
Next week, I will discuss what to expect in the outfield. In the coming weeks, I'll address the lineup and the pitching staff as well. Stay tuned!
- Yankees off to the hottest start since 2003, sweep Astros 4-0 in season opener - April 1, 2024
- Yankees' full-squad Spring Training officially underway - February 20, 2024
- Why the Yankees’ rotation may not be complete just yet - February 17, 2024
