Jazz Chisholm Jr, the Yankees’ high-voltage star, had spent all offseason preparing to play second base. It’s his natural home, where his range and instincts come to fruition. But after Oswaldo Cabrera’s ankle injury, he found himself across the diamond again, on the third. That wasn’t by choice; it was by circumstance. But there is a subtle change in his tone now and the ripple effects of that may reach one of the Yankees’ most expensive veterans.

We are talking about DJ LeMahieu, who is on a 6-year, $90 million deal with the Yanks and is currently holding the second base for them. He hasn’t been consistent this season. His fieldwork no longer showcases the agility that once earned him accolades as a Gold Glove utility player. With Chisholm displaced and trade rumors swirling, pressure is building in the Bronx to rearrange the infield, and fast.

It was only on Tuesday that The Athletic quoted Chisholm as saying: “Everybody knows I’m a second baseman. Of course, I want to play second base, but whatever it takes to help the team win. If that’s what the team chooses, that’s what I gotta do. I don’t write the lineups. You feel me?”

The MLB insider Jon Heyman weighed in on it on his podcast later. “Alright, Yankees. Jazz Chisholm should be a second baseman. I think he’s wasting his time at third base. He doesn’t belong there… The issue is that DJ LeMahieu prefers second to third, and so they’re going with that setup. But I think, ultimately, they’ve got to move Jazz to second… or make a trade for a third baseman,” he said.

This spotlights the real issue. The Yankees are stuck choosing between a declining veteran with positional preferences and a dynamic talent who’s not being used where he’s best. The front office appears to be actively weighing options, with names like Luis Rengifo, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Eugenio Suárez floating in the rumor mill.

For now, LeMahieu’s contract, with a limited NTC, protects his spot. But Chisholm’s presence may force the Yankees’ hand. If DJ can’t turn things around soon, expect a shakeup. Because this version of the infield isn’t built to last, and Chisholm didn’t come to New York to be out of place.

When respected insiders like Heyman start saying it out loud, change usually isn’t far behind.

MLB execs point to the Yankees as a logical fit for Eugenio Suárez

If the Yankees want to fix their infield puzzle, the answer might be wearing Sedona red for now. In a recent poll conducted by The Athletic, more than 40 front-office executives weighed in on who could be on the move at the trade deadline and ne name consistently popped up: Eugenio Suárez. The Arizona slugger is having a resurgent first half, and executives clearly believe he’s ripe for a midseason deal. Among the most logical landing spots? The Bronx.

The fit makes sense. Suárez, a right-handed power bat with 26 home runs and 69 RBIs already, would slide into third base for New York and instantly give the lineup some badly needed thump. More importantly, his arrival would free up Jazz Chisholm Jr. to move back to second base, his natural and more impactful position. It’s the kind of two-birds-one-trade scenario that executives love, and one that could push DJ LeMahieu out of picture.

Bowden didn’t dance around the idea either. “A reunion with the Mariners or a deal with the Yankees, who could then move Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second base, would make a lot of sense,” he wrote. And it really would. Suárez offers offensive quality and the kind of edge New York’s lineup has lacked.

The only question? Whether Arizona’s playoff hopes fade fast enough to justify pulling the trigger. If they do, don’t be surprised if the Yankees are first in line.