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The New York Yankees made a blockbuster trade this offseason to acquire Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers. The Yankees sent Nestor Cortes and, at the time, prospect Caleb Durbin.
Durbin made his debut for the Brewers on Friday at third base. The Yankees’ struggles at third base cannot be understated. DJ LeMahieu has proven he cannot be relied on because of injuries, and Oswaldo Cabrera is better suited as a utility or bench player. While Williams has been inconsistent so far, Durbin played well in his debut at a position where the Yankees need an upgrade.
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Durbin went 2-for-3 and narrowly missed on a home run in his first career at-bat. He also made a great catch, reaching over the railing into the opposing dugout. He also showed off his speed with an infield single and tagging up on a ball that was sailed from the outfield.
Meanwhile, Williams has a 5.14 ERA and has given up more runs than he did all of last season. Although Durbin has only played in one game, he has shone in Triple-A for the Brewers as well.
Durbin set the stolen base record in the Arizona Fall League last season. He also stole 31 bases in the minor leagues last season. This season, he was slashing .278/.316/.482 in Triple-A.
Durbin has speed and can play solid defense in the hot corner. If LeMahieu struggles when he returns, the Yankees could regret trading Durbin. He is still in the pre-arbitration stage of his contract, and if his debut is any indication of what is to come, he could become a long-term piece for the Brewers.
Meanwhile, the Yankees could be looking to add a third baseman near the trade deadline.
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