Could D.J. LeMahieu Revive Career and Fill Void For Yankees at Third Base?

A Championship Pursuit, With One Lingering Question. Could D.J. LeMahieu Provide the Answer to The Yankees Third Base Problem? 

For the Yankees, the offseason began with a dream—one that involved Juan Soto patrolling the outfield in the Bronx for years to come. But when the bidding war with their crosstown rivals ended in disappointment, reality set in. The Yankees needed to pivot. They needed a new plan.

And so, they acted.

First, they brought in Cody Bellinger, a former MVP whose 2024 season fell short of expectations but who, at 29, still has the talent to reclaim his All-Star form. With his left-handed power and smooth defense, Yankee Stadium could be the perfect place for his resurgence. Then came Paul Goldschmidt, the steady veteran first baseman. He’s 37 now, but his bat still carries weight—22 home runs and 154 games played last season, a testament to his durability.

They fortified the bullpen. They added another ace in Max Fried. And in a move that made the infield shuffle complete, they shifted Jazz Chisholm back to his natural position at second base.

"We did a lot to try and keep him here, I think everyone understands how much we wanted him back. That being said, there's a lot of ways to build a great team. I think the moves we've made this offseason give us that chance."

Aaron Boone on Yankees' pivot after losing Juan Soto: pic.twitter.com/Kvma3tq12f

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) February 11, 2025

Every need was addressed.

Except one.

Third base remains a glaring question mark, a gap left open through free agency and trade. The Yankees, a team built on certainty, are now left to search for answers from within.

The Unfinished Puzzle in the Bronx

There’s no clear solution. The internal options feel more like patchwork than permanence. Utility man Francisco Cabrera could take over, but that would strip the Yankees of their most versatile infield piece.

And so, the speculation begins.

Phillip Martinez of SNY has pointed to an unconventional fix: D.J. LeMahieu. The veteran infielder is coming off a season where he hit just .204 in 67 games—a shadow of the player who once won a batting title. Injuries have taken their toll. The reflexes, the timing, the confidence—it all seemed to fade.

Wrote Martinez: “For all the LeMahieu doubters out there, unless they bring someone proven in (see: Nolan Arenado), the Yankees will try and get the most out of the infielder who is owed $30 million across the next two years. I think the Yankees could use a talent like Arenado, even at his age, but not sure a deal can be done.”

DJ LeMahieu and his place in the third base equation were among the topics during Aaron Boone's presser Tuesday. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/XT1eMEN8aQ

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) February 11, 2025

But the Yankees are paying him, regardless. Fifth year of a six-year, $90 million deal. For a team that rarely embraces uncertainty, they may have no choice but to let LeMahieu try to reclaim his spot, to give him a chance before deciding he’s finished.

The Yankees have reshaped their roster, their rotation, their lineup. But as Opening Day approaches, one thing remains unsettled.

The search for a third baseman continues.