According to the New York Post, the Yankees have checked in on free agent infielder Jorge Polanco, who struggled badly at the plate last season as he battled through a long-term knee injury that had been plaguing him for years.
Polanco, 31, would be far from a splashy acquisition given his health and production in 2024, but Chris McMonigle was optimistic reading the report simply because it signifies that Brian Cashman and company aren’t satisfied with how things currently stand in the infield.
“I am deathly afraid that the Yankees are going to be okay with starting DJ LeMahieu at third base,” C-Mac said. “I think they view the idea of DJ playing third as a possibility because it moves the infield around in a position they’re more comfortable with. They can move Jazz Chisholm to second base.
“At least it proves to me that they’re out on the market trying to improve, because I can’t go into the year with DJ LeMahieu as the Yankee third baseman. Can’t happen. A super utility infielder making $15 million isn’t the best roster building, but that’s how it has to be.”
LeMahieu has been battling injuries of his own for years, and is far removed from the MVP candidate he was in 2020. C-Mac wants no part of the former batting champ being a regular third baseman, and while Polanco doesn’t excite him much more than LeMahieu would, he is excited at the thought that the Yanks are still looking to improve.
“I don’t want Polanco, but at least they’re connected to all these infielders,” C-Mac said. “And at least it tells me that they’re not comfortable with DJ LeMahieu starting at third base, even if it makes them better defensively.”