{"id":109303,"date":"2025-11-10T01:04:51","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T06:04:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=109303"},"modified":"2025-11-10T01:04:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T06:04:51","slug":"yankees-must-improve-infield-this-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/11\/10\/yankees-must-improve-infield-this-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"The Yankees Have to Improve the Infield This Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though the New York Yankees have a lot of pressing issues to deal with this winter, the infield isn\u2019t really one of them at first glance. If they make no changes from this past season, they will have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/r\/ricebe01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-11-10_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ben Rice<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/chishja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-11-10_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jazz Chisholm Jr.<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/v\/volpean01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-11-10_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Anthony Volpe<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mcmahry01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-11-10_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryan McMahon<\/a> as their starters from first to third base. It&#8217;s certainly not a bad starting four, but if New York wants any chance of capitalizing on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/j\/judgeaa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-11-10_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aaron Judge<\/a>\u2019s golden years, they\u2019ll have to be aggressive and pursue any possible improvements, particularly on the left side of the infield.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_108473\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-108473\" style=\"width: 761px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-108473\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27277339-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"761\" height=\"507\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27277339-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27277339-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27277339-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27277339-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27277339-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27277339-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27277339-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 761px) 100vw, 761px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-108473\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Oct 8, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon (19) makes a catch during the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game four of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chisholm, who just won a Silver Slugger at second base, and Rice (who perhaps should have also won a Silver Slugger) already have the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/09\/09\/ben-rice-yankees-secret-weapon\/\" target=\"_self\">right side locked up<\/a>. At shortstop and third, things aren\u2019t as great; Volpe is coming off, in many aspects, the worst year of his career, and McMahon\u2019s bat remains a liability in spite of his Gold Glove defense. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/10\/09\/yankees-free-agent-questions\/\" target=\"_self\">New York\u2019s offense got completely exposed in the postseason<\/a> against the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, and a collective cold streak from the infield was a big reason why they couldn\u2019t advance past the Division Series<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Jazz Chisholm Jr. captures his first career Silver Slugger award! <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cooLgXnSOQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/cooLgXnSOQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Talkin&#8217; Yanks (@TalkinYanks) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TalkinYanks\/status\/1986934007200665879?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 7, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Yankees Must Try to Improve Infield This Offseason<\/h2>\n<h3>Running It Back<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Yankees could run it back with their current infield and be okay, but why should they settle for being simply okay? This year\u2019s free agent class is not insanely talented at shortstop\/third base, but even adding just one elite hitter could make a world of difference. This would be especially true if the Yankees aren&#8217;t successful in either bringing back <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bellico01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-11-10_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cody Bellinger<\/a> or signing the extremely coveted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tuckeky01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-11-10_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kyle Tucker<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First off, it\u2019s important to note that by all accounts, the Yankees are still all-in on Anthony Volpe. General manager Brian Cashman attributed his defensive collapse and .663 OPS to the torn labrum that he suffered in May. But, it&#8217;s important to note that at the time, the organization was fervent in that it was nothing serious. In an attempt to save face and retain their confidence in their struggling shortstop, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/09\/12\/yankees-anthony-volpe-confirmed-labrum-injury\/\" target=\"_self\">Volpe kept the starting job at shortstop<\/a>. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New York also has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/cabaljo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-11-10_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jose Caballero<\/a>, a trade deadline acquisition who looked much better than Volpe when he was given adequate playing time. It\u2019s almost a guarantee that either Volpe or Caballero will start at shortstop next year; rather, it is third base that could potentially be up for grabs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Potential of Platoon<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">McMahon slashed .208\/.308\/.333 with the Yankees and Colorado Rockies last season, racking up a 2.3 brWAR. As bad as his slash line was, he remains an above-replacement level player thanks to his superb fielding skills. However, with a couple of solid third basemen hitting the open market, New York might consider either replacing McMahon or signing another bat to platoon with him. One name that comes to mind is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=muraka000mun&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-11-10_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Munetaka Murakami<\/a>, a Japanese player currently with NPB&#8217;s Yakult Swallows, who will be available for teams to sign this winter. He is a strong power hitter who could platoon beautifully with McMahon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other third basemen who are hitting free agency include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bregmal01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-11-10_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alex Bregman<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/suareeu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-11-10_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eugenio Su\u00e1rez<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/d\/dejonpa01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-11-10_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paul DeJong<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/moncayo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2025-11-10_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Yo\u00e1n Moncada<\/a>. The thing about, say, Bregman or Su\u00e1rez, is that they could not platoon with McMahon: they would have to start. This doesn&#8217;t make the Yankees any more eager to sign a big name to play third. Rather, the Yankees should, at least, go out and grab a utility bat as a secondary option off the bench. They cannot rely on Caballero alone, especially if he ends up <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/11\/05\/free-agent-shortstop-bo-bichette-could-fix-yankees-volpe-issues\/\" target=\"_self\">taking over at shortstop for Volpe<\/a> (no matter how unlikely that is to happen).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>The Last Word<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the end of the day, if the Yankees want to field another high-powered offense that has depth, they\u2019ll have to bring in one, if not more, infielders to bulk up the left side. Their weak bats at third and shortstop were completely exposed in the postseason, so if they want to avoid another quick exit, they must go out and acquire the talent to make a real postseason run.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Though the New York Yankees have a lot of pressing issues to deal with this winter, the infield isn\u2019t really one of them at first glance. If they make no changes from this past season, they will have Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe, and Ryan McMahon as their starters from first to third [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5148,"featured_media":99644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,1071,35],"tags":[1156,3461,28591,761,5149,29170,2600,3041,772],"class_list":["post-109303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-yankees","category-mlb","category-news","tag-alex-bregman","tag-anthony-volpe","tag-ben-rice","tag-eugenio-suarez","tag-jazz-chisholm-jr","tag-munetaka-murakami","tag-paul-dejong","tag-ryan-mcmahon","tag-yoan-moncada"],"modified_by":"Lewis Masella, Site Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5148"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109303"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":109322,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109303\/revisions\/109322"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=109303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=109303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}