The New York Yankees made their first acquisition of the new year by signing veteran infielder Paul DeJong to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to Major League Spring Training. DeJong would earn $1 million if he made the Major League roster. The Yankees have not officially announced the signing.
The agreement was first reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand confirmed the deal through a source, and ESPN also confirmed the agreement on Sunday. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported the financial details of the contract. DeJong is 32 years old and has nine years of Major League experience.
- The Yankees signed veteran infielder Paul DeJong to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to Major League Spring Training.
- DeJong provides infield depth and experience as the Yankees prepare to open the season without shortstop Anthony Volpe.
- The deal includes a $1 million salary if DeJong makes the Major League roster.
Quiet Offseason Moves and the Context Behind the Signing
The Yankees’ offseason has been limited in terms of outside additions, with most of the organization’s activity focused on retaining players from its 2025 roster. The most significant move came in November, when outfielder Trent Grisham accepted a qualifying offer valued at $22.025 million.
Despite the slow pace, the Yankees have indicated they intend to do more. The team has been vocal about its desire to re-sign infielder and outfielder Cody Bellinger, who is believed to have received a formal offer from the Yankees in late December. Published reports have also connected the Yankees to a more limited free-agent pursuit of infielder Bo Bichette if Bellinger signs elsewhere.
On the pitching side, the Yankees are known to be among the teams that have expressed trade interest in Miami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera and Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta, as the club expects its starting rotation to be impacted by injuries early in the season.
Betting Markets Reflect Stability Amid Roster Uncertainty
While the Yankees have not made major external additions, sportsbooks have shown little movement in their futures markets. Current World Series odds list the Yankees at +700 at FanDuel, +750 at DraftKings and BetMGM, and +850 at Caesars and PointsBet. DraftKings’ odds have remained at +750 since early November, with no reported changes through December and into the new year. Caesars has also listed the Yankees at +850 without recording movement.
In the American League futures market, the Yankees are listed at +310 to win the AL, according to DraftKings odds tracked by Action Network. The consistency in pricing reflects steady market positioning despite injuries and ongoing roster questions.
DeJong’s Career Background and Recent Performance
DeJong was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2015 MLB Draft and advanced quickly through the minor leagues. He made his Major League debut in 2017 and became the Cardinals’ everyday shortstop, hitting 25 home runs in 108 games and finishing second in National League Rookie of the Year voting.
In 2019, he was named an All-Star after hitting 30 home runs and producing 5.2 bWAR. Following that season, St. Louis signed him to a six-year contract extension that ran through the 2023 season and included club options for 2024 and 2025.
DeJong’s offensive production declined beginning in the shortened 2020 season. From 2020 through 2022, he hit .196/.280/.351. He returned to roughly league-average production in 2023 across 81 games, which led the Cardinals to trade him shortly before the deadline to the Toronto Blue Jays as injury protection for shortstop Bo Bichette.
His performance fell sharply over the final two months of that season while playing in Toronto and San Francisco. DeJong finished that stretch 12-for-93 with a .129/.128/.183 slash line in nearly 100 plate appearances. He later signed with the Chicago White Sox on a $1.75 million guarantee and delivered a stronger season in 2024, hitting 24 home runs with a 96 wRC+ across 139 games while splitting time between third base and shortstop for Chicago and Kansas City.
Last season with the Washington Nationals, DeJong’s year was disrupted in April when he was hit in the face by a Mitch Keller fastball, fracturing his nose and sidelining him for ten weeks. He returned in July and finished the season batting .228 with six home runs and a .642 OPS in 57 games. Over 208 plate appearances, he recorded a 76 wRC+.
Infield Versatility and Competition for Roster Spots
DeJong brings experience at all four infield positions. With the Nationals, he started 32 games at third base, 11 at second base, seven at shortstop, and one at first base. His versatility is particularly relevant as the Yankees prepare to begin the season without shortstop Anthony Volpe, who underwent left shoulder surgery in October and is not expected to play in big league games until April or May.
DeJong joins an infield mix that includes Amed Rosario, who finalized a one-year, $2.5 million Major League deal with the Yankees on Dec. 30 and is expected to platoon with left-handed-hitting Ryan McMahon at third base. Other infield options include José Caballero, Oswaldo Cabrera, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last May, and Zack Short, who signed a minor league contract with the Yankees in December.
He will also compete with Jorbit Vivas and Braden Shewmake for available bench roles, while backup catcher J.C. Escarra is expected to occupy one of the team’s four bench spots. The infield picture could continue to shift depending on additional signings, trades, or the eventual return of injured players.
