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Since his return from the injured list, DJ LeMahieu has been the team’s primary second baseman. However, his struggles are reaching a breaking point.
LeMahieu has been playing second base because it’s where he is most comfortable, according to The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner. However, the Yankees’ catering to his needs is forcing Jazz Chisholm Jr. to play third base, where he himself has admitted he is not the best defender.
If LeMahieu was swinging a good bat, the Yankees may be able to live with the move. However, he is slashing .250/.326/.328 with 30 strikeouts in 40 games. FanSided’s Rucker Haringey suggested the Yankees swing a blockbuster trade for Nolan Arenado to fix their infield.
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Arenado has two more years on his eight-year, $260 million contract. He has shown some signs of decline as well, but would still be an upgrade for the Yankees.
“On the other hand, the Cardinals may be willing to let him go for pretty close to nothing on the trade market,” wrote Haringey. “Shedding his salary might be enough to allow New York to land him at the cost of an unheralded prospect. Trading for Arenado isn’t going to alter the Yankees’ future but it might give them the short-term boost they need in 2025 to end their title drought.”
Arenado is slashing .247/.306/.395 with 10 home runs. His OPS is still better than LeMahieu’s, and his defense would help the Yankees significantly. He would slot in as the everyday third baseman, playing better defense than Chisholm at third. That would allow Chisholm to play second base, where he would perform better than LeMahieu has.
Arenado is an eight-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glover, six-time Platinum Glover and five-time Silver Slugger. He could be a great addition for the Yankees, who are not playing good baseball right now.
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