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Zach Pressnell is a Newsweek contributor based in Columbus, Ohio. His focus is MLB content. He has an extensive knowledge of professional baseball and all things that come with it after working closely with the sport for years. Zach has been with Newsweek since November 2024 and previously worked at FanSided and OnSI. He is a graduate of Bethany College (WV). You can get in touch with Zach by emailing [email protected].

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The New York Yankees desperately need to find a new third baseman. Oswaldo Cabrera went down with a leg injury earlier this season, and the Yankees haven't found a suitable player to fill the void.

With the trade deadline coming up, a lot of people in the baseball world expect the Yankees to swing a deal for a new third baseman.

Karl Rasmussen of Sports Illustrated recently suggested the Yankees could pursue a trade for Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes to replace the injured Cabrera.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 04: Ke'Bryan Hayes #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 04, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners won... Alika Jenner/Getty Images

"Ke'Bryan Hayes is one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball. He's also probably the worst offensive one. Hayes is a Gold Glove winner at the hot corner, but for all he provides defensively, he's a complete liability at the plate," Rasmussen wrote. "After logging a dismal 61 OPS+ across 96 games in 2024, Hayes has followed that up with a 64 OPS+ 84 games into the 2025 season. Would his ability to save runs defensively outweigh his inability to create runs at the plate?"

While there have been a lot of media outlets and insiders making this connection between Hayes and the Yankees, it doesn't make too much sense to me.

The Bronx Bombers likely won't pursue a huge trade for a player with a lot of time and money left on his contract if he's not an offensive upgrade. Hayes is barely usable as a hitter at this point in his career.

While the glove is spectacular, the Yankees need more offense, too. Maybe if Hayes were a league-average bat, this idea would make sense, but the Pirates star is well below average at the plate.

It would be foolish for the Yankees to commit to Hayes and the remainder of his $70 million contract when he's an offensive liability.

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