Should the Yankees stick with DJ LeMahieu?

The New York Yankees made several moves to upgrade the roster after losing Juan Soto in free agency, but none at third base. That's why they might start DJ LeMahieu at the position in 2025 even though he only hit .204 with two homers and 26 RBI across 67 games last season.

Injuries and age have caught up with the 36-year-old. LeMahieu is a three-time All-Star and two-time batting champion, but his hitting has steadily declined since 2021, culminating with his brutal 2024 campaign.

Although the two-time Silver Slugger's resume is undeniable, players are only as good as their most recent season. LeMahieu had a fractured right foot before the year started and couldn't shake off the soreness as the months wore on, which affected his offensive production. He felt good when he started swinging again recently, but he also admitted that "it's easy to feel good in January," via the New York Post's Greg Joyce.

Therefore, New York can't trust LeMahieu's health to last. The four-time Gold Glover will compete with Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas for the starting job in spring training, so the club is at least making him earn it. Cabrera hit .247 with eight homers and 36 RBI across 109 games last season, while Peraza and Vivas are prospects.

Even if LeMahieu wins the job in camp, though, the Yankees should keep him on a short leash. The four-time Gold Glover is only one more injury or big slump away from having another 2024-type campaign, and the team can't afford that with Soto gone and Giancarlo Stanton already having health issues again.

That's why signing a free agent makes sense, even with the big names off the board. New York could stick Jazz Chisholm Jr. back at third and sign second baseman Brendan Rodgers, who hit .267 with 13 homers and 54 RBI for the Colorado Rockies last season. The 2015 No. 3 overall draft pick has a better track record than Cabrera, Peraza and Vivas.

Of course, the blockbuster option is to acquire Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals. The future Hall of Famer turns 34 in April and will make $21 million this season, but he's still miles better than any of the aforementioned players at this point. He hit .272 with 16 homers and 71 RBI across 152 games last season.

With that being said, the Yankees would likely have to send prospects, players and possibly cash considerations to land Arenado. That's why they're best off adding Rodgers as cheap insurance for now and seeing how camp plays out with their in-house options.

If all of them struggle as the season unfolds, though, New York must upgrade before the July 30 trade deadline. The Yankees can't have an automatic out at third base and return to the World Series without Soto.