The New York Yankees announced that DJ LeMahieu would be moving to the bench moving forward. They may be in the market for an upgrade at third base now, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. back at second base.
Oswald Peraza figures to see most of the work at third base. While he can play solid defense, his bat is not up to par. He has an OPS below .500 and the Yankees could be looking for a player with more offensive upside.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Yankees have expressed interest in Ke’Bryan Hayes of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sports Illustrated’s Karl Rasmussen suggested the Yankees actually make an aggressive move and acquire him. However, Hayes may not actually fulfill the Yankees’ need for an offensive upgrade.
“Ke’Bryan Hayes is one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball,” wrote Rasmussen. “He’s also probably the worst offensive one. Hayes is a Gold Glove winner at the hot corner, but for all he provides defensively, he’s a complete liability at the plate. After logging a dismal 61 OPS+ across 96 games in 2024, Hayes has followed that up with a 64 OPS+ 84 games into the 2025 season. Would his ability to save runs defensively outweigh his inability to create runs at the plate?”
As good as Peraza is at third base, Hayes is a good as they come. He is more than a rental as well. Hayes is in the fourth year of an eight-year, $70 million extension, and the Pirates could be willing to trade him. The Yankees are already getting next to nothing offensively at third base, so why not ensure they get the best possible defense?
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There is also a chance that the Yankees can unlock some of Hayes’s offensive potential. His father, former Yankees Charlie Hayes, told ESPN’s Michael Kay in January that he is not happy with how the Pirates have gone about developing his bat. Perhaps a change of scenery and playing on a team with World Series aspirations could help him.
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