YANKS NEED TO FIX THE HOT CORNER, BUT ARE THEY LOOKING IN THE RIGHT PLACES?

The Yankees need to upgrade from Ryan McMahon if they are going to improve their infield. McMahon has been a disappointment that the Yankees can no longer afford. The stronger defender he was once thought of is no longer present on the field and his bat is non-existent. So the Yankees are shopping for a new man at the hot corner.

I'm just not sure they are shopping in the right places, but that is also a Yankee tradition. An infectious tradition that never seems to end because Brian Cashman doesn't know how to make meaningful upgrades anymore. The Yankees are tied to two players, Japanese star Teruaki Sato of the Hanshin Tigers and Texas Rangers Josh Jung, read more HERE.

Interesting how Sato is believed to be the answer to the offense the Yankees desperately need, but the Yankees have hesitations about his defensive capabilities. Are the Yankees hypnotized by Sato's Triple Crown award? Maybe. His batting average looks enticing but his high strikeout rate and not a lot of walks to go with them. It just sounds like a higher batting average with uncertain defensive capabilities on the biggest stage of Major League Baseball.

Then there is Jung, who is riding the hype of the best season he's ever had with a .299 BA, 12 home runs, 42 RBIs in 444 plate appearances. Oh how the Yankees would salivate to have a hitter with that kind of batting average that isn't named Aaron Judge. We need guys who can be productive, but we also need guys that can stay healthy and be good defenders and that's where I worry about Jung. 

In his earlier years, he was considered a steady infielder blessed with a strong arm and good instincts, but things have really changed since. Jung's defense was especially bad in 2026. He played 847 innings at the hot corner, and -12 defensive runs saved, which would have been the worst among all big league third basemen if he had logged enough playing time to be eligible for the dishonored title. It's like another version of Anthony Volpe at the end of the infield, and we certainly don't need anymore of those. I predict the Yankees are going to give Volpe another chance at second base, so Jung at third base will be an open invitation for any team to use the left side of the infield like an open highway.

The Yankees NEED a new third baseman. It's been a need for a long time so the Yankees can't afford to ignore again. I just need the Yankees to stop making the same mistakes over and over again and bringing in defective players for band aid fixes that never work. 

WHY is that too much to ask for?

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj