The New York Yankees made a quick move to acquire Jon Berti from the Miami Marlins following DJ LeMahieu’s injury. Berti, a utility man, had a standout season in 2023 and played a significant role in the Marlins’ playoff run. He hit .294/.344/.405 with a career-best 103 OPS+ while showcasing versatility by playing five different positions, primarily shortstop and third base. Berti also excelled defensively at both positions, making him a valuable addition to the Yankees.
With LeMahieu sidelined, Berti is expected to fill the gap at third base for the Yankees initially. The rest of the team’s infield is relatively settled with Anthony Volpe at shortstop, Gleyber Torres at second base, and Anthony Rizzo at first base. While Oswaldo Cabrera was previously in line for the third base position, he will likely serve as a backup with Berti’s arrival.
Even though Berti has experience in the outfield, the Yankees have a strong outfield lineup with players like Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Alex Verdugo, and Trent Grisham. The Yankees didn’t have to give up top prospects for Berti, with outfield prospect John Cruz heading to the Marlins and catcher Ben Rortvedt traded to the Tampa Bay Rays as part of the deal. Rays outfield prospect Shane Sasaki will also join the Marlins in the three-team trade.