The New York Yankees may have just entered the realm of baseball absurdity—or perhaps it’s simply a sign of just how dire their infield situation has become.
In a pregame surprise that had reporters buzzing and fans double-checking their screens, MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch posted a video to X showing veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt fielding grounders at second base.
Yes, second base.
Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner at first, has never played a single inning at any other position in his 14-year MLB career. So why the sudden middle-infield experiment?
The simplest explanation: the Yankees are running out of options.
Yankees Turn to Goldschmidt Amid Infield Chaos
Second base has been a revolving door all season. DJ LeMahieu missed the first two months with a calf strain and hasn’t looked sharp since returning. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was supposed to bring energy to the position but has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency. The team has also cycled through Jorbit Vivas, Pablo Reyes, and Oswald Peraza—all without much success.
The struggles haven’t been limited to second base either. Third base remains unsettled following Oswaldo Cabrera’s season-ending injury, and even with Anthony Volpe holding it down at short, the Yankees can’t plug every hole at once.
This situation appears less about optimizing defense and more about figuring out who can even play.
Could Goldschmidt’s Move Signal Bigger Shifts?
Sliding Goldschmidt over to second, even if only temporarily, might be a way to make room for Ben Rice in the lineup. Rice, now in his second MLB season, has shown promise with a .246/.333/.520 slash line, 12 home runs, and 25 RBIs in 204 plate appearances. Although used mostly as a designated hitter, he came up as a first baseman.
If Goldschmidt can hold his own at second—even just occasionally—it opens the door for Rice to play more at first base. This becomes even more important with Giancarlo Stanton nearing a return, as the DH spot is likely to be reserved for his bat and recovering elbows.
But this may not just be about Rice or Stanton. With Goldschmidt on a one-year deal, this odd trial at second base could be a sign that GM Brian Cashman is weighing trade market options for a longer-term solution at first base ahead of the deadline.
A Risky Experiment at Best
Still, the idea of Goldschmidt turning double plays at 36 years old, after never playing the middle infield, is a long shot. He’s proven elite at first, with excellent range and instincts—but second base is a different beast entirely. It requires quicker pivots, faster decisions, and avoiding collisions with oncoming baserunners.
Asking Goldschmidt to adapt now is a bold gamble—something akin to teaching a cat to swim.
But for a Yankees team desperately seeking stability in a chaotic infield, the willingness to consider such a move underscores how unconventional this season has become. Will Goldschmidt actually take the field at second? Probably not. But the fact that he’s fielding grounders there speaks volumes about how unsettled things are in the Bronx.
