The New York Yankees have yet to commit major money in free agency, but they’ve been working to shore up the depth on their roster. On Sunday, they reportedly agreed to a minor league contract with infielder Paul DeJong, according to Jon Heyman.
DeJong played seven seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals to begin his career. He was named a National League All-Star in 2019, when he hit 30 home runs and drove in 78 runs. Since leaving the Cardinals, he’s spent time with the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals and Washington Nationals.
Though he hasn’t been as productive as he was at the beginning of his career, DeJong represents experienced, versatile depth for the Yankees. While his offense is pedestrian, DeJong slashed .228/.269/.373 in 57 games for Washington in 2025; there’s value in his defense. He played all four infield positions in 2025 and provides flexibility off the bench.
DeJong has also hit 146 career home runs. He hit just six in 2025, but is one season removed from hitting 24 over 139 games. The Yankees won’t be leaning on him for offensive production, but the veteran has home run power. However, his strikeout rate has risen throughout his career, peaking at 33.7% in 2025, capping his offensive upside.
The Yankees already brought back Amed Rosario for 2026 to provide depth in the infield, but more options won’t hurt them. Jazz Chisholm has missed significant time in multiple seasons throughout his career.
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The deal is a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Often, these contracts include opt-outs for players who do not make the major league roster by a certain date.
The Yankees remain in the market for position players. They reportedly checked in on infielder Bo Bichette and made an offer to outfielder Cody Bellinger.
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