The New York Yankees moved Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base after Oswaldo Cabrera’s season-ending injury and DJ LeMahieu’s return. However, it may be time to move him back to second base.
According to The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner, the Yankees are accommodating LeMahieu’s comfort at second base. The only problem is that LeMahieu has been below average at the plate and in the field. Additionally, Chisholm is not as strong a defender at third base. He has a minus-three outs above average at third base, but a plus-three at second base.
Gary Sheffield Jr., son of a former Yankees All-Star, Gary Sheffield, called out the Yankees for how they were using Chisholm and called for a change.
“This should be Jazz Chisholm Jr’s final game at third base,” Sheffield Jr. wrote on X on Saturday. “He’s a good player out of position the team needs to deal for a third baseman. Couldn’t be more clear.”
The Yankees’ only other option at third base at this time might, in fact, involve LeMahieu. That could change at the trade deadline, but if LeMahieu is going to struggle at defense anyway, it would make more sense to at least upgrade at second base with Chisholm.
Chisholm was just named an All-Star, and the Yankees are not even seeing the best version of him. He could drastically change the Yankees’ defense up the middle by moving back to second base.
Sheffield played three seasons with the Yankees. He was the MVP runner-up with the Yankees in 2004. He was named an All-Star twice while playing for the Yankees. His son currently hosts the “Yankees Unloaded” podcast on YouTube.
Sheffield Jr. is not the only person calling for an infield change in The Bronx. However, the Yankees seem to be hearing all the noise, as USA Today’s Bob Nightengale revealed the team has checked in on Ke’Bryan Hayes, signaling their interest in a third baseman.