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Aaliyan Mohammed is a Newsweek contributor based in Atlanta, GA. His focus is MLB content. Aaliyan has been with Newsweek since 2024 and previously worked at MLB.com, Wisconsin Sports Heroics and Heavy.com. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University. You can get in touch with Aaliyan by emailing [email protected]

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The Yankees came into the season expecting DJ LeMahieu to be the starting third baseman, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. playing second base.

However, after a spring training injury, LeMahieu came back to play second base and forced Chisholm to go back to third base. However, LeMahieu was struggling defensively, and Aaron Boone finally had to make a change.

On Tuesday night, Chisholm returned to second base, and Oswald Peraza played third base. However, it was not an ordinary off day for LeMahieu. Boone revealed that third base is physically a challenge for LeMahieu and that he will have a bench role moving forward, per The Athletic's Chris Kirschner. Boone was asked how LeMahieu is taking the move.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 13: DJ LeMahieu #26 of the New York Yankees reacts after scoring on a 2-RBI single hit by Oswaldo Cabrera #95 during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay... Sarah Stier/Getty Images

"Not great necessarily," Boone said of how LeMahieu's handling the move, per Kirschner. "That's kind of the situation we're in right now."

LeMahieu was actually swinging the bat better as of late. He is slashing .266/.338/.336 overall and has a .300 average since May 30. However, his lack of slug and defensive struggles were too much for a Yankees infield that already lacks some power and has struggled defensively.

The Yankees' infield defense looked solid in their first game with Chisholm back at second base.

"Really good," Boone said of the infield defense on Tuesday, per NJ.com's Max Goodman. "I thought Peraza made a couple really good ones over there. Little bit of an in-between hop and a great pick by Goldy on one of those. I thought Jazz looked good. Handled the pivot. I thought he turned over a couple balls that he probably didn't have plays on pretty efficiently and with some juice on it. Good play moving to his left on the one ball. So good, the infield defense was really good."

While Peraza has been fine defensively, the Yankees will likely be looking for a better option at third base. Peraza has a .487 OPS, which is simply not going to cut it. However, a trade for a third baseman could mean a corresponding trade to move LeMahieu.

He is already unhappy with his new role, and if the Yankees add a bat-first third baseman, they are going to want a versatile glove like Peraza on the bench. That would mean there is no room for LeMahieu. Chisholm is a plus defender at second base and will play every day. The Yankees already have little use for LeMahieu, and adding a new third baseman will make him even less useful.

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