Jazz Chisholm Jr. was ultimately moved to second base by the Yankees on Tuesday for their series opener against the Mariners.
Although it’s flexible, Aaron Boone stated that he anticipates Chisholm to be his regular second baseman going forward.
Boone stated, “I want to get him back there and play and just take advantage of his athleticism.”
Chisholm started the season in second place, but after recovering from an oblique injury in early June, he moved up to third. DJ LeMahieu’s comeback from a calf injury coincided with the trade, but the Yankees lost two infield spots as a result of making room for the veteran.
After suffering multiple foot, hip, and lower-body ailments, LeMahieu, 36, lost all of his range and is currently ranked second in the league with -1 Outs Above Average. Chisholm started Tuesday’s game with three OAA at second, but he now has -3 OAA at third.
After learning third on the spot last summer, Boone thinks Chisholm can excel at both positions. The All-Star has made three throwing errors in his last four games, for a total of six this season.
That might be partly due to the fact that Chisholm has been coping with an extremely painful shoulder for the past three weeks. Longer throws are needed at third base, where Chisholm didn’t work in the spring or winter, but Boone claimed there was no connection between the shoulder problem and the hot corner.
“No, no,” answered Boone. He injured it on his own.
Chisholm claimed that he initially experienced stiffness after backhanding a ball and throwing as hard as he could to first on Sunday, but he did not use playing third as an excuse.
When questioned about his distinct comment in a follow-up, Boone responded, “I’m not going to get into it.”
Boone said, “He’s good with it,” after speaking with Chisholm and alerting him to his return to second. Chisholm, however, claimed that he only learned about it when he woke up and saw the lineup because they hadn’t discussed it on Tuesday.
Chisholm remarked, “I suppose we’ll talk about it later because we didn’t talk before this.” I still haven’t had a chance to speak with him about it.
Minutes after Boone’s pregame press conference, Chisholm addressed media toward the end of clubhouse access.
Even though Chisholm was unaware of every detail surrounding his return to second base, he earlier told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, “Everybody knows I’m a second baseman.”
He was questioned on Tuesday about his qualifications for the role.
Chisholm answered, “Elite defender.” elite slugging. Quick. Excellent defense. I am at a loss for what more to say. To me, that sounds like a complete player.
As a Marlin, Chisholm switched from second to center field, but he said he would rather not relocate.
Chisholm, who is playing out of position, has been one of the Yankees’ top hitters since returning off the injured list. Prior to Tuesday’s game, he was batting.308 with a.969 OPS, eight home runs, and twenty-one RBI.
Boone called LeMahieu a hitter off the bench now that Chisholm was back at second. Boone responded, “Not great, necessarily,” when asked how the two-time batting champion handled the news.
However, the manager went on, “that’s kind of the situation we’re in right now.”
Although LeMahieu has played sharp third base in the past, Boone stated that his current physical condition makes it difficult for him. We don’t currently have any plans to accomplish that, but we’ll see.
For LeMahieu, a three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glover, a bench job is yet another low moment.
He was hoping to play third going into spring training, but the calf issue prevented him from doing so. Although he is merely hitting, he has surpassed minimal offensive expectations.266 with a 95 wRC+ over 45 games, five extra-base hits, two home runs, 13 RBI, and a.674 OPS.
LeMahieu’s inability to contribute anything at the plate or in the field at this point in his career makes it unlikely that the Yankees will cut him soon. Even if he owes $30 million between this season and the next, the organization might assign him.
On Tuesday, Boone started Oswald Peraza at third since LeMahieu was no longer able to play the position. Peraza, a skilled defender, was the third-worst hitter in MLB with at least 130 at-bats, with a 37 wRC+.
On the offensive end, it has been difficult. “The defense has been outstanding wherever you put him on the diamond,” Boone said. I continue to believe that there is offensive potential and talent there as well.
Despite not having a major league bat, Peraza has managed to keep a position on the roster by supporting Anthony Volpe at shortstop. But before the July 31 trade deadline, the Yankees will want to acquire a stronger third baseman.
Although the market is still evolving and many teams are still in the running for the playoffs, some possible alternatives are Colorado’s Ryan McMahon, Arizona’s Eugenio Surez, and Pittsburgh’s Ke Bryan Hayes and Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Along with adding prospect Jesus Rodriguez to their 40-man roster, the Yankees also inked minor league contracts with veterans Nicky Lopez and Jeimer Candelario.
