For the New York Yankees, third base is a problem with multiple possible answers. The issue is deciding which path to take.
After Oswaldo Cabrera’s horrific injury a couple of weeks ago, the Yankees’ internal options include Jorbit Vivas, Oswald Peraza, and DJ LeMahieu. It’s an eclectic mix of offense, defense, youth, and experience.
The third basemen on the trade market this season are no cinch to improve the situation. But many of the names available have recent track records of success, even if they’re now struggling.
Nolan Arenado and Ryan McMahon have been the two most rumored trade chips at the hot corner this season. Could the Yankees go after anyone else?
On Tuesday, Newsweek’s Andrew Wright named Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, a 2023 Gold Glover who has struggled with the bat over the past two seasons, as a prospective trade fit for the Yankees.
“Hayes is having a bit of a down year, with just a .229 average and one home run in 192 at-bats,” Wright wrote. “A change of scenery would be extremely beneficial.”
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“His addition… would give the team two Gold Glove winners on that side of the field and could help improve an aspect that New York has struggled with over the last few seasons. The Yankees should jump at the opportunity to acquire Hayes if he becomes available.”
Hayes, 28, has been worse offensively than Wright lets on. He’s got a .571 OPS in 143 games since the start of last season. That means he’s only been worth 0.8 bWAR despite sensational defense. The only thing that suggests he could be a better version of Peraza is his .762 OPS in 2023.
The $70 million lump sum of Hayes’ contract sounds like a lot, but it’s broken up over eight years, an unusually long deal for someone his age to accept at such a low price tag. It’s more a question of whether or not New York sees enough offensive upside to offer a prospect package that Pittsburgh would entertain.
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