Yankees Rumors: New York talking with Dodgers, Padres about second base solutions

And just like that, it seems like the Yankees may not have set the idea of Jazz Chisholm at second base in stone after all.

According to the weekend rumor mill, New York's braintrust has recently touched base with both the Dodgers and Padres regarding potential solutions at second base. Both options would be exciting, yet flawed, despite the differing reputations that precede them.

On Sunday morning, Pat Ragazzo broke the ice by connecting the Yankees and Dodgers on a Gavin Lux trade, which was widely speculated about after Los Angeles came to terms with Korean utility player Hyeseong Kim on Friday. LA's intention to move Mookie Betts back to shortstop has overcrowded their infield, and Lux -- barely safe at second before the Kim move -- may become a valued trade commodity. His departure would also allow LA to welcome back free agent Kiké Hernández in a familiar roving role.

According to Ragazzo, the Mariners have been more aggressive than the Yankees in the Lux chase, but both teams have tried. Jeff Passan also connected the Yankees and Lux on Monday morning.

Yankees pursuing Gavin Lux in trade, but Mariners might have edge

Though Lux has never blossomed into the player that his prospect pedigree led us to believe he would, and though many Yankee fans probably know him as "the weak link in the Dodgers' otherworldly October lineup," he's actually entering the offseason with a head of steam. Lux's bat speed went insane from July onward last season, resulting in a 137 wRC+ from the point of the change through the end of the regular season in 73 games. Perhaps he finally got comfortable after recovering from the torn ACL that erased his 2023 season. The Yankees (or Mariners) might be buying the breakout here.

Of course, New York could also go with a bigger (but potentially more problematic) name. Passan connected them to Padres second baseman Luis Arraez on Monday, too, noting that the Yankees "have continued to discuss" a trade for the 2022-2024 batting champion (yes, you read that correctly).

Yankees continuing to discuss Luis Arráez trade with Padres

Arraez can absolutely hit. 2024 represented his career-low OBP and offensive value to date, however, and his glove is Gleyber Torres-levels of inconsistent, if not worse. It would be somewhat surprising to see the Yankees pivot from Torres to a less familiar, and still frustrating, defender in the same mold. Still, Arraez is a world-class table setter, and is either undervalued or overrated in the modern game, depending on who you're talking to.

This increased Yankees' second base discourse also comes on the heels of the Boston Red Sox reportedly emerging as Nolan Arenado's "preferred" trade destination. This is far from confirmation of either set of rumors, but they certainly do align nicely with one another. Stay tuned.