IF THE YANKS DON'T TRADE FOR A 3RD BASEMAN, THEY'LL BE FINE

Ah yes, here we go again. Another day, another baseless rumor linking Nolan Arenado to the Yankees. You’d think this would have died down by now, but somehow, someway, we keep hearing whispers about it—except, well, there’s no actual chatter. The only place really pushing this narrative seems to be Fansided. And let’s be honest, they’re just throwing stuff at the wall for clicks at this point in my opinion.

This spring, we were told that third base was DJ LeMahieu’s to lose. Well, he lost it. Now, instead of looking at the most logical option in my opinion, Oswald Peraza—a natural shortstop who makes total sense at third... reports are the Yankees seem to be favoring Oswaldo Cabrera. Look, Cabrera’s a great utility guy, but Peraza fits better at third and he's solid on that side of the infield. That’s just my opinion, but hey, what do I know?

So then what happened next was Fansided suggested that Aaron Boone said something about a potential trade for a third baseman before Opening Day. Except—spoiler alert—he didn’t. Anyone who’s paid attention to Boone knows that when he talks, it’s just noise. He never actually says anything meaningful. But that didn’t stop Fansided from twisting his words into some grand theory about a looming trade.

Their big takeaway? Boone’s comment:

“We’ll see if something emerges from camp or, you know, things happen in and around baseball ... moves happen late, so, we’ll see.”

And? What exactly are we supposed to glean from that? Is this really a sign that the Yankees are revisiting a trade for Arenado? Doubtful. If it was going to happen, it would’ve happened already. Plus, let’s be real—he’s not getting any younger.

If we’re throwing names around, what about Alec Bohm from the Phillies? We talked about that back in November. Read A BOLD TRADE MOVE WITH THE PHILLIES , BUT LEAVE THE MARTIAN OUT OF IT! and guess what? Nothing happened. And nothing will.

Then yesterday, Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa brought up Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pirates—an idea that originally came from Michael Kay. (Go check out REAL TALK! WE HAVE A NEW NAME TO REPLACE DJ LEMAHIEU.) Will that happen? God knows at this point.

Look, if the Yankees don’t fill third base externally, they’ll be fine. The obsession with plugging every position with an All-Star is exhausting. This has been the narrative all offseason, and at some point, people just need to take a breath.

Take this stuff day by day, and my advice? Don't listen to Aaron Boone.

INFIELD HELP? YEP, THE YANKEES ARE STILL SEARCHING

Source: NESN

As much as many would have liked to have seen it happen, Nolan Arenado is likely not going to be the infield help the Yankees are seeking. We have reported that here at BYB. Read THEY CALL HIM "NO GO" NOLAN. Although, there seemed to be a possibility early on in the trading season, the veteran infielder has been raising his no trade clause multiple times over the last couple of months, despite the Cardinals trying to find the right deal for the All Star third baseman. So, who is next? Help wanted and the Yankees are interested.

Source: The Seattle Times

"The New York Post reports that the Yankees have "checked in" on free-agent second baseman Jorge Polanco. Polanco, 31, is recovering from October knee surgery but should be ready for a full and normal camp. The switch-hitter is capable of manning multiple infield positions, and for his career he owns a solid 110 OPS+ across parts of 11 MLB seasons. The Mariners declined their $12 million option on Polanco for 2025, which allowed him to hit the market," stated CBS Sports. 

Source: Denver Times

Hard to say at this point if the Yankees will go for this option. Another option is free agent infielder Brendan Rodgers. According to SI.com, "While Rodgers hasn't quite lived up to being the highly-touted No. 3 overall pick of the 2015 MLB Draft, the Gold Glove Award he won in 2022 combined with his steady .267/.314/.407 with 13 home runs and 54 RBI in 135 games played in 2024 shows that he could be a solid option to fill New York's second base vacancy." Another Rockie who could make his way to the Bronx to play second base, isn't that ironic?

Source: Sports Illustrated

Earlier this week, we posted about the possibility of adding San Diego Padre Luis Arraez and Dodger Gavin Lux, who recently committed to the Cincinnati Reds. The Arraez deal still puts Jazz Chisholm back at third base, which is a liability for the club. Not that Jazz isn't an incredible athlete, he's just not the best third baseman on the market. 

An interesting development is the potential that Alec Bohm could become available via a trade. Phillies insider Jim Salisbury shared in the recent podcast, "The Phillies Show" on Monday, that Philadelphia could be looking to upgrade their hot corner. According to the Philly Voice, Salisbury reported, "I think their ears are still wide open on Alec Bohm. Some of that could shake out or maybe become more of a topic when [Alex] Bregman finds his landing spot. But then the [Nolan] Arenado piece is there. That whole third base thing, there seems to still be moving parts." And what if the Yankees could be on the receiving end of that? Wow, shave and a haircut and boom you are a Yankee, Alec!

So, the Help Wanted sign is up and the Yankees are taking applications. Third base needs to be filled.

 Who's gonna be that guy? 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

A BOLD TRADE MOVE WITH THE PHILLIES , BUT LEAVE THE MARTIAN OUT OF IT!

It’s the offseason, and the Yankees need to make moves. Naturally, the rumor mill is already spinning faster than a Judge home run landing in the bleachers. One name popping up is Alec Bohm of the Phillies—a solid player who could fill a hole at first base for the Yankees. But let’s get one thing clear: Jasson Domínguez is NOT part of this conversation. Period. End of story. Let’s not even pretend.

Of course, the media being the media, they’ll probably start speculating soon enough. Headlines like, “Should the Yankees Trade Jasson Domínguez for a Cheesesteak and Alec Bohm?” aren’t far off. But let’s be real—this idea is about as absurd as putting ketchup on a bagel. 

Let’s talk about Bohm before we get too distracted. He’s not a bad option for the Yankees. In 2024, he slashed .280/.332/.448 with 15 home runs and tied for fourth in MLB with 44 doubles. He’s consistent, doesn’t strike out much, and offers versatility at third and first base—perfect for filling the void left by Anthony Rizzo. Bohm is also under team control through 2026, with a modest $8.1 million salary for next season.

Sounds great, right? Sure, but there’s a catch. The Phillies are reportedly eager to part ways with Bohm because of his attitude issues. There have been moments when he’s let his frustrations boil over on the field, and let’s be honest: if you can’t handle the pressure in Philly, the Bronx spotlight might feel like staring directly into the sun. Hmm, maybe it's NOT a good move.

Still, Bohm’s talent makes him an intriguing option. He could stabilize a lineup that’s been more unpredictable than a New York subway schedule.

Now, let’s talk about Jasson Domínguez. Or rather, let’s NOT talk about him in the context of a Bohm trade because it’s laughable. Domínguez is the Yankees’ prized possession, the golden child of their farm system. He’s barely scratched the surface of his potential, and the glimpses we’ve seen have been dazzling.

The Martian has the kind of upside that teams dream about—possibly even superstar status. Trading him for Alec Bohm, while entertaining to discuss, is a non-starter. If this even crosses anyone’s mind, they need to sit down with a coffee and rethink their life choices.

No one is saying the Yankees are considering trading Domínguez for Bohm. But give the media five minutes, and they’ll find a way to spin it. Here's another, “Unnamed Source Suggests Yankees Will Trade Domínguez for a Bag of Baseballs and a Hot Pretzel.”

If the Yankees like Bohm, they should pursue him—for the right price. A package of minor leaguers or less heralded prospects could get it done. Bohm isn’t the second coming of A-Rod, and with his attitude issues and impending free agency in 2026, the price tag should be reasonable.

The Phillies would likely jump at a deal that doesn’t involve Domínguez but gives them solid future pieces. Everyone wins. Well, except maybe the media, who won’t have their juicy Domínguez-to-Philly story.

But here's a little perspective. Adding Alec Bohm to the Yankees makes sense—if it’s done right. He could help stabilize the infield and add a dependable bat. But let’s be clear: Jasson Domínguez is untouchable. He’s the Yankees’ future and trading him for anything less than a generational superstar (hi, Shohei) is lunacy.

So, go ahead, Cashman—make the call. Trade for Bohm if you can but leave Domínguez out of it. And for the love of pinstripes, let’s not give the media any more crazy ideas.