The New York Yankees are reportedly considering veteran infielder Whit Merrifield to fill their second base vacancy. With the departure of Gleyber Torres to the Detroit Tigers in the offseason, the Yankees have a significant need in the infield.
One potential option is shifting Jazz Chisholm Jr. from third base to second, allowing them to sign a third baseman. Alternatively, they could keep Chisholm at third and acquire a second baseman. The team has been linked to various infielders during free agency, and The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty revealed that Merrifield is on their radar.
“The Yankees were also in contact with Merrifield after the Philadelphia Phillies cut him in July. Merrifield landed with the Atlanta Braves, posting a 93 OPS+ in 42 games. He turns 36 later this month,” Kuty reported.
Merrifield, who turns 36 soon, is a versatile player who can cover multiple positions. In 2024, he played for both the Phillies and Braves, finishing the season with a .222 batting average, 4 home runs, and 15 RBIs. Over his career, Merrifield has appeared in 1,147 games, hitting .280 with 94 home runs and 485 RBIs. He is a three-time All-Star and has led the American League in stolen bases three times.
The Yankees have also been linked to other infielders, including Luis Arraez, Jorge Polanco, Ha-Seong Kim, Kike Hernandez, and Brendan Rodgers. However, Kuty noted that the Yankees are likely more inclined to sign a third baseman and move Chisholm to second base.
“One question that remains is how the Yankees will fill second base and third base,” Kuty mentioned. “The Yankees almost surely would prefer Chisholm at second base, which was his primary position in the majors from 2020 until 2022. He was an All-Star as a second baseman in 2022 for the Miami Marlins before an injury cut his season short at 60 games.”
Chisholm, who hit .256 with 24 home runs and 73 RBIs in 2024, might be more comfortable at second base than at third, where he played for the first time with the Yankees.
Despite some early offseason setbacks, such as losing Juan Soto to the New York Mets, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman is pleased with the team’s progress. The Yankees have made significant moves, including signing Max Fried for their rotation and trading for closer Devin Williams. They also bolstered their offense by acquiring Cody Bellinger and signing Paul Goldschmidt.
“The job is not done yet; we have more to do,” Cashman commented. “Hopefully, you can run into some opportunities that make sense for both sides, whether it’s matching with an agent or an opposing club.”
The Yankees now have the third-best odds of winning the World Series at +850.
