The New York Yankees entered 2025 with championship aspirations, a potent roster, and renewed belief. But just a couple of months in, those hopes are hanging by a thread. What was once considered a slow start or temporary setback has spiraled into something much more serious.
Now, with utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera out for the season, the Yankees’ third base dilemma has exploded from a minor concern into a full-scale crisis. The wound, quite literally and figuratively, just got wider.
Cabrera’s Injury: The Breaking Point
The blow came during a routine defensive play—one Cabrera has made dozens of times this year—when he awkwardly landed on his left ankle. The result: a fracture that required immediate surgery. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed on Friday that Cabrera is unlikely to return this season.
At first glance, losing a .243 hitter with one home run doesn’t seem like the kind of loss that derails a season. But Cabrera was never about numbers. He was the duct tape of this Yankees team—covering holes, plugging gaps, and giving Boone the flexibility to adjust on the fly. Whether it was at third, shortstop, second, or even the outfield, Cabrera gave the Yankees the option to survive the grind of a long season.
Now, that safety net is gone. And with it, a growing sense of stability has disappeared.
Third Base: From Patch Job to Panic Mode
Let’s be clear: Cabrera was never supposed to be the everyday third baseman. But with DJ LeMahieu rehabbing, Oswald Peraza inconsistent, and no clear alternative, Cabrera became the default fix.
He wasn’t flashy, but he was dependable. He turned tough grounders into outs. He extended innings with patient at-bats. He made life easier for Boone and the rest of the infield. And now, without him, the Yankees are exposed—vulnerable in a way championship teams can’t afford to be.
LeMahieu, freshly activated from a rehab assignment, is expected to take over at third. But he’s 36, coming off a frustrating 2024 campaign in which his bat lacked life and his mobility was questioned. While his minor league numbers were encouraging, the pressure of being the everyday third baseman in the Bronx is a different beast.
The Yankees aren’t just asking LeMahieu to contribute—they’re asking him to save the season.
More Holes Than Solutions
And Cabrera’s absence isn’t the only issue.
Anthony Rizzo has struggled at the plate. Gleyber Torres has been streaky at best. Juan Soto and Aaron Judge have carried the offense, but even they can’t hit around instability in the infield. Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole have done their part, but without clean defense behind them, the margin for error disappears.
Oswald Peraza is another name in the mix. Still just 24, he’s flashed defensive promise but has yet to establish himself at the plate. With Cabrera out, Peraza is expected to see more time—possibly even a platoon with LeMahieu. But at this stage, the Yankees can’t afford another player learning on the job.
Cashman on the Clock
Brian Cashman’s job was already difficult. Now, it’s urgent.
Third base is officially a problem. The Yankees need a replacement—whether that’s a contact-heavy left-handed bat, a glove-first veteran, or an aggressive trade for a name like Ryan McMahon or Jeimer Candelario. Waiting to see if LeMahieu holds up is risky, but it may be their only option for now.
Jazz Chisholm, rumored to be on the Yankees’ radar, brings flexibility between second and third, but even that move would come with questions. Is Chisholm a fit in the Bronx spotlight? Is the price too high?
Time is ticking. The Yankees’ biggest strength—depth—is vanishing, and the trade deadline suddenly looms like a judgment day.
From Contender to Crisis
The Yankees’ season hasn’t collapsed—not yet. But the signs are flashing. Losing Cabrera might not make the headlines in other cities, but in New York, it’s a tipping point.
This was the year they were supposed to have all the pieces. Soto. Judge. A healthy rotation. A deep bullpen. And for a while, it looked like they did.
Now, the Yankees are bleeding at third base. The bandage is gone, the wound is wide open, and the clock is ticking.
If they don’t find answers fast, 2025 could go from a season of promise to a painful story of “what could’ve been.”
