Yankees insider proposes complicated trade candidates after Oswaldo Cabrera injury

For any New York Yankees fans out there dreaming of a potential Rafael Devers trade at some point, don't count on it. The Athletic stated the obvious in regard to the Boston Red Sox's likely unwillingness to trade a top hitter in the league to their bitter rival.

But Oswaldo Cabrera's injury might've expedited the Yankees' search for a third baseman ahead of the trade deadline. Yankees insider Brendan Kuty presented fans with some early targets as we move away from the Devers pipe dream (not that we were ever fixated on it, really).

In his latest piece, Kuty floated Twins utility man Willi Castro, Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, and Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz. These are all productive players in their own right. The only problem? None are true third basemen, which doesn't change a single thing for the Yankees.

Kuty talked about Jazz Chisholm potentially moving back to third base, but a big part of why the Yankees let Gleyber Torres go was because they had Chisholm to slide back over to his natural position of second base. Moving him back to third to accommodate what could end up being a lesser version of Torres in Castro/Hoerner would be counterintuitive.

Castro has third base experience, but he's mostly comfortable in the outfield. Hoerner is a true second baseman and is signed through next year, which would complicate the 2026 picture with Chisholm on the same timeline. Diaz last logged regular reps at third base in 2022; we simply cannot consider that a viable option.

The plan always felt like it was to start Cabrera at third base, see how the trade market unfolded, and then move him back into a super utility role for the second half and into the postseason. All of these proposed options would either downgrade the Yankees defensively or forced them to unnecessarily juggle more important roster pieces.

There's just no perfect answer. The viable options are to revisit a Nolan Arenado trade with the Cardinals, who may be reluctant to trade him now amid their current surge; hope the Diamondbacks fall out of contention so Eugenio Suarez becomes available; or take a chance on a struggling Alec Bohm if the Phillies are willing to sell low.

Otherwise, the Yankees are right back where they started the year and will be potentially be sacrificing more to make it all work. That is, unless, DJ LeMahieu turns into LeMachine again after finally recovering from his ailments.

That said, Brian Cashman better really make sure Devers to New York isn't possible.