In less than 24 hours, the New York Yankees will face the Houston Astros to kickstart the 2024 MLB season. While the roster landed in Houston earlier this week, skipper Aaron Boone has yet to sketch a final lineup due to the incessant injuries hitting the camp every day.
After Gerrit Cole, veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu will start the season on injury list due to a foot injury. He got hit during spring and the soreness hasn’t subsided to a level where LeMahieu could be cleared to field. Hence, the Yankees front office materialized a final trade to acquire infield depth just hours before opening day.
Yankees Land INF Jon Berti From Marlins For Catcher Ben Rortvedt!
In a move aimed at bolstering their infield depth, the New York Yankees have finalized a trade involving three teams. As per ESPN, the Bronx Bombers acquired infielder Jon Berti from the Miami Marlins and shipped catcher Ben Rortvedt to the Tampa Bay Rays. Jon Berti is a seasoned infielder with experience in multiple positions. At 34, he has batted .258/.338/.367 with 23 home runs and 91 stolen bases in 432 games for the Marlins since 2019. That being said, the acquisition of Berti addresses a pressing need for the Yanks, who have been seeking to fortify their infield depth following the departure of DJ LeMahieu. The veteran third baseman will start the season on IL with an uncertain return timeline.
While utility player Oswaldo Cabrera was expected to start at third base in DJ LeMahieu’s absence, the addition of Jon Berti could change the dynamics. For now, skipper Aaron Boone has been non-committal. He says he needs to figure out a lot of things before sketching an opening-day lineup. Regardless, the manager seemed happy with Berti’s acquisition and revealed how he was worried about the bench prior to the trade. “I was concerned about our infield depth and our bench. But I feel like that improved a lot today,” said Boone. Ultimately, the success of the trade will hinge on Berti’s ability to adapt to his new surroundings and make meaningful contributions on both sides of the ball. If he can provide the Yankees with the stability, versatility, and production they seek in the infield, the trade could prove to be a shrewd move.
Aaron Boone Uncertain On DJ LeMahieu’s Return Timeline
While updating on veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu’s injury status, Yankees skipper Aaron Boone confessed of having sped up his recovery process. Boone said DJ took some ground balls but didn’t feel great. Despite no concerning damage to the foot, the third baseman continues to experience pain which is still not at a tolerable stage.
Moreover, as far as a return timeline is concerned, Aaron Boone remains uncertain. It could either be days or weeks depending on the 36-year-old’s healing capacity. In his absence, the Yankees have made arrangements for reinforcements. Notably, the Bronx Bombers will play Houston Astros on March 28 for opening day game of 2024 MLB season.
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