In the wake of Oswaldo Cabrera’s devastating ankle injury Monday night against the Seattle Mariners, the New York Yankees’ front office has sprung into action, and talks have begun around a high-profile move that could send shockwaves across both baseball and international sports. According to team insiders, Yankees manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman are actively discussing a bold plan to replace Cabrera—by targeting a versatile athlete from Argentina’s famed River Plate organization.
Yes, you read that right. In a dramatic twist that blurs the lines between sports, Boone has reportedly expressed strong interest in acquiring River Plate’s two-sport sensation, Martín Villalba, a 26-year-old phenom who has quietly trained in both baseball and soccer from a young age and has drawn attention from MLB scouts in recent years.
Sources close to the team confirm that a closed-door meeting took place at Yankee Stadium early Tuesday morning, involving Boone, Cashman, international scouting director Donny Rowland, and special advisor Reggie Jackson. The focus? Identifying immediate replacements who could match Cabrera’s defensive versatility and explosive athleticism—without disrupting the Yankees’ current momentum.
Villalba, who has played shortstop and third base in winter league appearances, is said to have an elite arm and exceptional agility, making him a plausible, if unconventional, emergency call-up target. While he is under contract with River Plate’s soccer division, his baseball background reportedly includes extensive work with former MLB trainer Luis Ramirez, and he’s participated in MLB-sanctioned showcases in the Dominican Republic.
“Athletically, he’s off the charts,” one insider said. “He’s the kind of player you’d never expect to see jump sports mid-season—but if any franchise has the guts to make that move, it’s the Yankees.”
Aaron Boone acknowledged the urgency of the situation in a postgame presser:
“Obviously, Oswaldo’s injury is a huge loss. He’s been a warrior for us. But we can’t sit still. We’re exploring every possibility—international, internal, or otherwise—to fill that void.”
While some fans and analysts might view the Villalba move as a stretch, Cashman is no stranger to unconventional deals. In fact, Jackson—nicknamed “Mr. October”—reportedly endorsed the idea, noting that the team needs a dynamic energy boost, especially as they push deeper into a competitive AL East season.
Adding further intrigue, Yankees international liaison Carlos Mendoza, who has ties to several South American scouting circles, has reportedly already made contact with River Plate officials to assess Villalba’s availability and contract logistics.
While the Yankees also have internal options—such as Oswald Peraza and Jahmai Jones—the pursuit of Villalba represents a bold, global approach rarely seen in modern baseball. If negotiations move forward, it could mark the first time a major American baseball team recruits directly from a South American soccer club.
More updates are expected later this week as the Yankees prepare for a critical series against the Red Sox.
One thing is clear: Oswaldo Cabrera’s absence has ignited one of the most unconventional replacement hunts in Yankees history—and all eyes are now on Buenos Aires.
