Angels swiping Yankees third base target could have positive consequences

The New York Yankees' third base void remains nebulous with spring training one week away. At this juncture, Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza and (don't make me say it) DJ LeMahieu might be more appealing than the majority of candidates.

It's getting to be dire enough that, last week, Yoán Moncada and Kiké Hernández were floated in a New York Post article ... though it was quickly specified that the Yankees had requested Moncada's medicals in November and never spoke to him, while it's anticipated that Hernández already has a handshake agreement with the Dodgers. You know. The same way they landed Roki Sasaki.

Moncada, in what felt like an inevitability for months, went elsewhere on Thursday night, agreeing to a $5 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Could the Yankees have afforded that? Sure. Did they want to? Clearly, they did not! Moncada played in 12 games last season and 92 the year before. Let the Angels take that chance, even at that price.

And, concurrently, let the Angels thicken out their infield, which now includes Nolan Schanuel at first, Zach Neto at short, Moncada at third, Tim Anderson involved on a minor-league deal, top prospect Christian Moore on the fast track, and Luis Rengifo at second base.

Are we sure Rengifo makes it to Opening Day with the Angels? The Yankees were rumored to be interested in him last deadline, midway through a breakout season where he followed up a 112 OPS+ campaign with a 116 mark and a .300 average (in, yes, 283 at-bats).

Yankees lose Yoán Moncada, but could take advantage of Angels' infield crunch with Luis Rengifo

First of all, the Yankees don't employ Yoán Moncada, so that's already one step in the right direction! Secondly, though, despite Rengifo's low exit velocities and remarkably poor range, he represents an upgrade on New York's current situation. He gets on base. He's pesky. He's a strong base runner, despite being a plodding sprinter. He's, at the very least, someone you wouldn't turn up your nose at if he's available at a low cost, given his pending free agency at the end of the season.

Rengifo, in essence, would be a cheaper version of Luis Arraez without the trio of batting titles to his name. It's not Plan A, and it shouldn't be, but it certainly makes more sense than banking on Moncada.