The New York Yankees have kicked off the new year with a move aimed at shoring up their infield depth, agreeing to a minor league deal with veteran infielder Paul DeJong. The contract, confirmed on January 4, 2026, includes an invitation to major league spring training and could pay DeJong $1 million if he makes the Yankees’ active roster. For a team that’s had a relatively quiet offseason, this addition offers both intrigue and insurance as the Yankees prepare for the 2026 campaign.
DeJong, 32, is no stranger to the big leagues. He burst onto the scene in 2017 as the St. Louis Cardinals’ everyday shortstop, quickly making a name for himself as the runner-up in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. By 2019, DeJong had earned his first—and so far only—All-Star selection, clubbing 30 home runs and posting an impressive 5.2 bWAR. However, sustaining that level of production proved challenging. His offensive numbers began to slide after 2020, with injuries and inconsistency hampering his ability to replicate his early-career success.
After spending seven seasons with the Cardinals, DeJong’s recent years have been a whirlwind. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays before the 2024 trade deadline, then finished out the year with the San Francisco Giants. Across 139 games in 2024, splitting time between the White Sox and Kansas City, DeJong managed a solid bounce-back: 24 home runs and a 96 wRC+. But his fortunes took another hit in 2025.
Signing a $1 million deal with the Washington Nationals, DeJong was hoping for a fresh start. Instead, a Mitch Keller fastball fractured his nose in April, sidelining him for ten weeks. He returned in July but struggled to regain his form, finishing the season with a .228/.269/.373 slash line, six home runs, 23 RBI, 18 runs scored, and four stolen bases in just 57 games. His 76 wRC+ marked a notable drop from his prior season, and the Nationals opted not to retain him. In total, DeJong’s nine-year major league career boasts a .229/.294/.416 slash line, 146 home runs, and 423 RBI.
Despite the setbacks, DeJong’s versatility remains a key asset. While he’s a natural shortstop, he’s started at every infield position over the past two seasons—32 games at third base, 11 at second, seven at shortstop, and one at first base in 2025 alone. That ability to move around the diamond is precisely what the Yankees are banking on as they face early-season uncertainty.
Shortstop Anthony Volpe, widely regarded as a cornerstone of the Yankees’ future, is expected to miss the start of the 2026 season while recovering from left shoulder surgery. In his absence, utilityman José Caballero is expected to see significant time at shortstop, while Oswaldo Cabrera, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in May 2025, is anticipated to be fully recovered and ready to compete for a role. The Yankees’ re-signing of Amed Rosario to a one-year, $2.5 million deal on December 30, 2025, adds another right-handed bat and infield option to the mix. Zack Short, brought in on a minor league deal in December, is also in the running for a bench job.
DeJong’s signing is low-risk and could prove shrewd if he can rediscover some of his previous pop or provide steady defense across the infield. His .446 slugging percentage against left-handed pitchers in 29 games last season suggests there’s still some situational value in his bat. As one source put it, “Having DeJong in camp will give the Yankees another versatile option to potentially compete for a bench job, with utilityman José Caballero expected to be starting at shortstop plenty over the first month-plus of the season until Anthony Volpe returns from left shoulder surgery.”
The Yankees’ infield competition this spring is expected to be fierce. Amed Rosario and backup catcher J.C. Escarra are likely to fill two of the four bench spots, leaving DeJong to battle the likes of Oswaldo Cabrera, Jorbit Vivas, and Braden Shewmake for the remaining openings. The situation could become even more crowded if the Yankees succeed in their top offseason priority: re-signing infielder/outfielder Cody Bellinger. Reports indicate that Bellinger received a formal offer from the Yankees in late December, and his return would push prospects like Jasson Dominguez to the bench, squeezing available roster spots further. Additionally, the eventual return of Volpe could shift Caballero into a bench role, further tightening the competition.
It’s worth noting that the Yankees’ 2025-26 offseason has been relatively subdued. Outside of DeJong and the re-signings of Rosario and outfielder Trent Grisham (who accepted a qualifying offer valued at $22.025 million in November), the Yankees have yet to add players to their 40-man roster who weren’t already in the organization last year, with the exception of Rule 5 draft pick and reliever Cade Winquest. The club has reportedly expressed trade interest in Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera and Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta, but no deals have materialized as of yet.
DeJong’s addition, then, is as much about flexibility as it is about upside. If injuries or trades open up opportunities, his experience and defensive capabilities could prove invaluable. If not, the Yankees have little financial risk—DeJong’s salary only kicks in if he makes the major league roster. As one analysis from the New York Post summarized, “By definition, that means there’s nothing particularly atrocious about it, even though the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up looked somewhat cooked in 2025.”
For DeJong, the deal represents another chance to prove he still belongs in the majors. For the Yankees, it’s a savvy depth move as they look to navigate the early season without their starting shortstop and with several utility roles up for grabs. With spring training on the horizon and roster battles set to intensify, all eyes will be on Tampa to see if DeJong can seize his opportunity and carve out a spot in pinstripes.
As the Yankees continue to pursue bigger names and weigh potential trades, the addition of Paul DeJong underscores their commitment to building a roster capable of weathering injuries and uncertainty. Whether DeJong’s veteran presence and versatility will translate into a meaningful role remains to be seen, but for now, he’s set to be a key figure in one of the most competitive infield battles of the spring.