The New York Yankees may struggle to meet their World Series goals if their current third base situation doesn’t improve. Initially, they planned to split time between D.J. LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera at third base, but LeMahieu’s spring training injury and Cabrera’s underwhelming performance in 2024 have created concerns.
This situation could push the Yankees to consider a major trade before the deadline. According to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, one option might be to target Austin Riley from the Atlanta Braves, especially if the Yankees decide to go “all in” this season.
Kuty noted that top prospect George Lombard Jr. is likely untouchable in trade discussions, even for players like Sandy Alcantara. However, if the Braves continue to underperform—currently sitting at 4-10—they might be willing to trade a high-salary player like Riley in exchange for future talent.
Riley, who signed a 10-year, $212 million contract in 2023, is a two-time All-Star. From 2021 to 2023, he consistently hit 30 or more home runs each season. Although he experienced a dip in performance last year, finishing with just 19 homers and his lowest OPS since 2020, he would still represent a significant upgrade over the Yankees’ current third base options.
Even if Riley isn’t at his peak, the Braves may consider parting ways with him to free up payroll while still maintaining a competitive core. They still have stars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, and Michael Harris II to anchor the team. Trading Riley for promising prospects could allow Atlanta to retool for the future while the Yankees strengthen their lineup for a serious postseason push.
In short, while the Yankees didn’t anticipate needing help at third base, a high-impact trade for a player like Riley could be the move they need to stay on track for a championship run.
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