Busted former top Yankee prospect gets new lease on life in wake of DJ LeMahieu DFA

After DJ LeMahieu's shocking but reasonable release, an underachieving former gem of the New York Yankees' farm system has a new lease on life. Once thought to be on thin ice, LeMahieu's departure actually strengthens the much-maligned Oswald Peraza's grasp on a roster spot for the remainder of the season and provides him an opportunity for redemption.

It's a little wild to think that in the face of a roster crunch, a guy with a .157/.226/.261 line could convince anyone that he'd be the best option to do anything, but that's exactly where we are. The primary reason for that is Peraza's defensive versatility.

With third base being too much of a challenge for LeMahieu, and a sore shoulder forcing Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second (a position where he is greatly superior defensively), it was Peraza's defensive versatility that saved him.

Peraza has posted four defensive runs saved at the hot corner this season, meaning the shift will drastically improve the Yankees' infield defense. Not only that, in a much smaller sample, he's recorded one defensive run saved at second base and a neutral zero in very limited action at his natural shortstop position.

The 25-year-old, who was once the Yankees' No. four overall prospect and, in 2020, was ranked ahead of Anthony Volpe on MLB.com's top-30 Yankees' prospect rankings, will now get the opportunity to be the Yankees' everyday third baseman at least until the July 31 trade deadline.

Oswald Peraza has an opportunity to secure his Yankees future by following one of two pathways

The Yankees' priorities at the trade deadline are constantly shifting. Just a little bit ago, it appeared that third base was the top need as the starting rotation seemed to be coming together. Then Clarke Schmidt was lost for the year. The bullpen, too, seems much more dire in light of Mark Leiter Jr.'s injury and the unit's collective struggles, led by the arsonist known as Jonathan Loaisiga.

The Yankees don't have unlimited resources in their farm system to trade away for big league upgrades, and the third base market outside of Arizona's Eugenio Suarez (who may or may not become available) is rather light. Could that mean that the Yankees forego bringing in an upgrade at the hot corner despite general manager Brian Cashman's promise to "go to town" to fix what ails the Bombers?

Peraza now has a roughly three-week audition to prove to Cashman and company that he can indeed solve the third base conundrum. In order to do that, he'll have to start hitting, channeling what he did in his 18-game MLB debut back in 2022 when he slashed .306/.404/.429.

More than likely, though, that doesn't happen. And even if it does, will the sample size be large enough to convince the organization that any offensive breakout he may provide is the real deal? That's certainly questionable.

However, if he can show signs of life with the bat, he can alleviate another Yankee need and prove his worth, even if a real third baseman is brought in. With his solid glove work at second and third and being a natural shortstop, Peraza is in prime position to prove that he can become the Yankees' primary utility infielder.

The Yankees have a rumored interest in reuniting with their former shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa, but it would be a huge boon if they did not have to spend assets to find an upgrade on the bench as well. For Peraza, he's been dealt one last chance to save his Yankees' career, and he has until the end of the month to do it.