The Yankees’ infield options following the departure of Juan Soto and the signing of Max Fried

DALLAS – The Yankees’ first move to offset the departure of Juan Soto in free agency was to double down.

The signing of two-time All-Star Max Fried on Tuesday night brought another quality starter to the top of the Yankees rotation.

Fried didn’t come cheap and took up a significant portion of the Yankees’ offseason budget. The left-hander signed a contract worth $218 million over eight years, the largest contract ever for a left-hander. However, his presence makes the Yankees’ rotation one of the best in baseball (on paper).

As general manager Brian Cashman said Monday at the Winter Meetings as he went over the Yankees’ roster without Soto, this team has “a lot of different areas to fix.” There are vacancies from other departures in free agency. Certain weaknesses that date back to last season also need to be addressed.

The infield is at the top of this list. Aside from Anthony Volpe at shortstop, the rest of the infield could look completely different.

First base has been a problem for the Yankees for years. Anthony Rizzo is not expected to return as a free agent, and if the Yankees don’t feel comfortable moving forward with potential Ben Rice in the starting role – Cashman called Rice the “de facto first baseman” where the roster currently stands – an upgrade needs to be introduced.

Free agent Christian Walker is a name to keep an eye on. The Yankees reportedly resumed contract negotiations with the slugger after Soto selected the Mets on Sunday night. Walker turns 34 next March and his age is a red flag in negotiations over a multi-year contract, but he has shown no signs of deterioration. He is a consistent, powerful contributor on offense and is an outstanding defender, initially winning three Gold Glove Awards in a row.

Another option would be to trade for a first baseman. The Cubs are motivated to move Cody Bellinger this winter. He can play both first and outfield, a left-handed hitter with pulling power, speed and a high ceiling. However, it would be costly to accept his contract if the Yankees made this deal with the Cubs. Other options, if the Yankees can keep up, could include Josh Naylor of the Guardians and Yandy Diaz of the Rays.

Then there’s DJ LeMahieu. The 36-year-old is owed $15 million over each of the next two seasons, and he hasn’t been a productive player for the Yankees in years due to a spate of injuries. Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised LeMahieu on Monday, noting that the infielder “got a lot healthier by the end of (last) season.” Over the summer, LeMahieu distanced himself from the foot injury that blighted his spring His season ended prematurely due to a right hip impingement in early September. Boone doesn’t want to discount LeMahieu because of his track record, assuming the veteran can maintain a clean bill of health in spring training.

“I still won’t be surprised if DJ has success for us at some level,” Boone said. “It depends on (health). Can he maintain that health that allows him to show off his swing, his approach and his swing? Feel really good physically about where he was at the end of the season. Now can he keep that up, improve over the winter and really hit his stride in spring training?”

Can he be an everyday player for the Yankees? Certainly not after the worst season of his career, right? LeMahieu hit .204 with a .527 OPS in 67 games in 2024.

“We’ll see,” Boone said. “I don’t want to rule that out because I feel like whatever we’ve seen over the last few years and whatever you think, good health goes a long way toward potentially bringing him back into the mix.”

Meanwhile, both Cashman and Boone Jazz praised Chisholm Jr. for his versatility and willingness to play wherever the team needs him. He held his own defensively at third base after being moved at the trade deadline last summer and could be a solution there in 2025, although he’s better served in center. He could move to second base to replace free agent Gleyber Torres if the Yankees can acquire a third baseman this winter.

“He is one of those who gives us flexibility. I prefer to keep him on the dirt. I wouldn’t have a reservation move at second base if a more natural third baseman ended up on our roster.”

Alex Bregman remains available in free agency, although the Fried contact makes a Bregman deal unlikely. Nolan Arenado could be dealt by the Cardinals, but the third baseman has a no-trade clause. Arenado’s priority is to play for a competitor and win consistently for the rest of his career, his agent Joel Wolfe said Tuesday at the Winter Meetings.

However, an argument can be made that Arenado would be a detrimental asset to the Yankees. At 33 years old, he is no longer the same player. His elite defense hasn’t declined all that much – he’s a 10-time Gold Glove winner at the hot corner – but offensive production has declined. Last season, Arenado posted a career-low .719 OPS. Aside from his ability to put the ball in play, his offensive stats – such as quality of contact and running speed – are also poor.

As the Yankees develop their Chisholm plans, they can also advertise from within. The team has high value on Caleb Durbin, who is coming off another breakout season in the upper echelons of the farm system (and a record-setting performance in the Arizona Fall League). Oswald Peraza, Jorbit Vivas, Oswaldo Cabrera and others could earn playing time next spring if the front office doesn’t import superior options.

Asked whether he wouldn’t mind using Durbin in a full-time position with the major league club if he doesn’t have MLB experience, Boone said it depends on what other moves the team makes. This came after Cashman named Durbin the “odds favorite” to start in the infield next spring.

“I like the player a lot,” he said. “I know our organization likes him a lot, but then again, I haven’t seen him play much in person or been around him on a daily basis to really get a feel for it. But if you look at it just from my scouting perspective, I think he has a chance to be a really good player. And I think he’s at a point in his development and his minor league career where he’s knocking on the door of opportunity. So we’ll see how everything turns out.”