ANOTHER 3RD BASE OPTION BECAUSE WE ARE FALLING OVER OURSELVES FOR CONTENT

Let’s begin with what we already know—because it’s been screamed into the baseball ether more times than Boone’s been ejected for arguing balls and strikes. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is coming back, and the Yankees are planning to plant him at third base. 

DJ LeMahieu? He’ll be staying at second, where he’s aged into the kind of defensive wizardry that deserves its own statue. The man’s 36, has the range of a shortstop, and has been so good at second, it’s almost criminal to consider moving him. Plus, it's probably smarter at this point.

But just because the infield is set doesn’t mean all of us sports writers can’t have a little hot stove fever in June for the hell of it. Why not toss out a wild name or two and see what sticks? Enter Connor Norby, Miami Marlins third baseman, and recent subject of speculative trade fun courtesy of Jacob Mountz over at Yardbarker.

Now, Mountz makes a decent case—and here comes the obligatory actual quote for the folks who still care about facts:

“In his 2024 rookie campaign, Norby hit .236 with nine home runs in 176 at-bats for the O’s and Marlins, displaying some promising power potential. This season, his power has wavered after returning from injury, but he is beginning to excel as a contact hitter. Norby is slashing .276/.319/.425 with three home runs in 127 at-bats since his return. However, more recently, Norby has shown signs of turning a corner.”

Not bad! In fact, those are numbers you’d absolutely consider if the Yankees had, say, a black hole at third base, a carousel at second, or were playing Peraza at both simultaneously just for laughs. But that’s not the case here.

Here’s where I admit something: when the Yankees are rolling, it gets tough to stir the content pot. I’m that curmudgeonly guy shouting at people to get off the metaphorical Yankee Stadium lawn. I critique. I second-guess. I still don’t know how Aaron Boone wakes up each morning, walks past a mirror, and says “Yep, I should still be managing this team.” The guy couldn’t manage a drive-thru, let alone a pitching staff.

But when the team is good—or, heaven forbid, off for a day—we all turn into wish-casting lunatics. We suggest trades. We dream up bold moves. It’s part of the fun. Even though third base is clearly Jazz’s job at this point. I mean, it's out there and on record. Even though DJ isn’t going anywhere at 2nd. Even though Oswald Peraza is sitting on the bench wondering if someone’s going to fake an injury so he can finally get a couple starts.

So, do we need another speculative piece about a guy like Connor Norby? Of course not.

But is it still kind of fun to think about? Absolutely. That’s baseball. And hey, shoutout to Mountz—he did the work, laid out the numbers, and stirred up the what-if machine. Norby may not be headed to the Bronx, but the idea of it is the kind of harmless summer daydreaming that keeps baseball fun even when your team doesn’t need fixing.

My take? Yankees don’t need Norby. They’re flush with infielders, the lineup’s humming, and unless Brian Cashman has a serious “look at this shiny new toy” moment, nothing’s changing.

Still… keep dreaming, folks. It’s what we do.

Carry on.