The New York Yankees sorely need extra infield help after losing Oswald Peraza for many weeks and questioning DJ LeMahieu’s availability for opening day.
LeMahieu has been doing some light jogging and is attempting to heal as quickly as possible, but the Yankees should be looking for another infielder, and one slugger who was recently released by the Cincinnati Reds could be an ideal fit.
Former Yankee Mike Ford, 31, is coming off a spectacular 10-game spring training with Cincinnati. He batted.455/.486/.727, with three home runs and eight RBIs, an 8.6% strikeout rate, and a 5.7% walk rate. Ford has had his ups and downs, but he is best renowned for his ability to hit home runs, something the Yankees would love to have.
He spent the first three years of his career with the Bombers, but only scored 17 home runs before the 2022 season, when he played for four different clubs before signing with Seattle in 2023. Ford appeared in 84 games last season, hitting 16 home runs and posting a 123 wRC+, suggesting that he was 23% better than the typical MLB hitter.
Ford lacks the versatility to play several infield positions, but he can help offset any loss at first base. The Yankees are very cautious with Anthony Rizzo, who was pulled from Friday’s game due to a lat injury. It is not expected to be serious, but the Yankees are taking precautions with their veterans, especially since Gerrit Cole is already out and LeMahieu has suffered another foot ailment.
If the Yankees don’t feel the need for a versatile piece in the infield, Ford would cost them next to nothing, and he had a red hot spring, so he could at the very least be Rizzo’s primary reserve and would be easy to trade if the Yankees decide to go in a different direction.
