Jazz Chisholm might not be able to make it to Boston in time for the Yankees' Sunday Night Baseball showdown with the Red Sox, according to Aaron Boone, which buys New York one more day to figure out the positional mess they've created (or add to it).
Given how well Gleyber Torres typically reacts to positional uncertainty and anything that threatens his tenure in pinstripes, it seemed likely he'd scuffle on Saturday night against Boston. Somehow, he instead ended up the hero, smashing a two-out double in extra innings to score a pair, giving Clay Holmes the breathing room he needed to believe in himself.
Torres will likely be the second baseman again on Sunday night, but when Chisholm -- who was recently converted back to second at the behest of, ahem ... well, that's anyone's guess -- lands, he should probably take the position over.
What does that mean for Torres? According to YES Network insider Jack Curry, it's far too soon to tell. The Yankees are planning other moves over the next 72 hours, presumably with another position player included. Curry went as far as to say that the team is more likely to try Torres at third base rather than Chisholm -- but, of course, it's too soon to tell. That statement telegraphs that a third baseman is still on the team's wishlist, and that versatility may be the name of Chisholm and Torres' new shared game.
Yankees could move Gleyber Torres to third base, continue adding at MLB trade deadline?
The Yankees purportedly outbid the field for Chisholm with a relatively boilerplate offer, headlined by one ascendant top prospect (Agustin Ramirez) and one future Rule 5 casualty (Jared Serna). He'll inject life into a team that desperately needs a spark (and maybe did so from afar on Saturday night in Boston), but certainly creates positional uncertainty for a great deal of the roster moving forward.
He'd been playing center field in 2024 (and holding up solidly), but moved to second base a few weeks ago in a rumored audition for interested parties. Marlins manager Skip Schumaker emphatically denied that claim, but managers emphatically deny a lot of things. Now, it seems Chisholm might spell both Torres and Aaron Judge, both of whom will lose DH reps in a matter of days when Giancarlo Stanton returns. DJ LeMahieu feels like the odd man out ... unless, of course, Ben Rice is dealt for pitching? And then, of course, there's also that pesky hinted-at position player trade that Curry floated. He also mentioned numerous conversations with the Rays, which could run the gamut from bullpen aid to an all-new infield with Isaac Paredes and Yandy Diaz.
The only thing clear right now is that the Yankees aren't done, and perhaps the cleanest way to solve their pending logjam is by finding an exit strategy for Torres that has nothing to do with third base.