Yankees Add Veteran Shortstop Paul DeJong on Minor League Deal
In a proactive move to address their shortstop situation during Anthony Volpe’s recovery from shoulder surgery, the New York Yankees have agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran infielder Paul DeJong. As reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post on Sunday, this signing adds another experienced option to their infield depth chart as the team prepares for the upcoming season without their regular shortstop.
The Yankees had already been working on contingency plans, with José Caballero positioned to take over Volpe’s role at the start of the season and recently re-signed Amed Rosario providing additional coverage. However, Rosario’s limited experience at shortstop over the past two seasons – just 15 games – left the Yankees seeking more proven options at the position. DeJong, a nine-year MLB veteran who played 57 games for the Washington Nationals last season, brings considerable major league experience to the table, including an All-Star appearance in 2019 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
DeJong’s journey through the majors has been quite the odyssey, particularly in recent years. After establishing himself as a power-hitting shortstop with the Cardinals, where he spent the first six and a half seasons of his career and once belted 30 home runs in a season, he’s become something of a baseball nomad. Since leaving St. Louis in 2023, DeJong has suited up for an impressive five different teams: the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, and most recently, the Washington Nationals. This constant movement reflects his transition from everyday player to veteran utility infielder, a role he could potentially fill for the Yankees.
While DeJong’s offensive production has declined in recent years – he posted a modest .228 batting average with an 81 OPS+ and negative bWAR last season – there’s reason for optimism about what he might contribute. Just a year ago, he demonstrated his enduring power by launching 24 home runs split between the White Sox and Royals. This power potential, coupled with his defensive versatility across the infield (primarily at shortstop but also at second and third base), makes him an intriguing depth addition. If DeJong makes the opening day roster, he could carve out a role as a platoon player or power bat off the bench, and his defensive flexibility would remain valuable even after Volpe returns to action.
For Yankees fans eagerly awaiting splashy offseason moves, the DeJong signing admittedly won’t generate much excitement. Coming on the heels of relatively modest transactions like re-signing Amed Rosario and Paul Blackburn, this minor league deal represents more of a depth-focused approach rather than the headline-grabbing acquisition many supporters crave. Nevertheless, the organization continues to methodically address its needs, recognizing that injuries like Volpe’s require thoughtful contingency planning rather than panic moves.
As spring training approaches, DeJong will have the opportunity to compete for a roster spot and potentially write another chapter in his well-traveled career. While no longer the All-Star he was in 2019, DeJong’s experience, power potential, and defensive versatility make him exactly the type of veteran depth piece championship-contending teams often rely on throughout the grueling MLB season. For the Yankees, whose championship aspirations remain as high as ever, these incremental depth moves could prove just as crucial as any blockbuster signing when the inevitable challenges of the 162-game marathon arise.
