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Yankees Trade Pitch Lands Aaron Judge a 292-Home Run Third Baseman

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Jun 7, 2025 2:36 PM ET

As it turns out, maybe New York Yankees star Jazz Chisholm Jr. is better off at third base after all—and that could pose a slight change of plan for Aaron Judge's latest title chase.

Chisholm opened the season as the Yankees' second baseman and hit the IL in early May batting .181 with a .714 OPS. However, DJ LeMahieu's return and Oswaldo Cabrera's severe ankle injury forced Chisholm back to third base, where he spent most of last season.

All Chisholm did in his first four games was go 8-for-16 with two homers and six RBI. His average is up to .223, his OPS has skyrocketed to .797, and he's, at least temporarily, silenced the questions about his fit in New York.

Chisholm's recent hot streak also raises questions about the Yankees' trade deadline plans, specifically adding a second or third baseman. Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller suggested the inconsistent Arizona Diamondbacks could potentially trade veteran third baseman Eugenio Suárez if they pivot to 2026.

Miller listed the Yankees as a fit for Suárez, who owns 16 homers and a .809 OPS for the 31-31 D-backs. Suárez turns 34 in July and is a free agent after the season.

We've heard that idea before, but that was before Chisholm took over the hot corner and finally looked comfortable at the plate again.

Suárez remains a dangerous home run hitter, entering Saturday only eight bombs shy of 300. A lineup featuring Suárez, Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and a consistent Chisholm is very bad news for opposing pitchers come October.

However, Suárez has only played third base since 2022—Suárez initially played shortstop earlier in the majors—and the Yankees don't have room for another DH, especially if Giancarlo Stanton avoids an injury setback.

Plenty can change before the July 31 deadline, and Chisholm can easily enter an extended hitting slump. But if he continues hitting well and doesn't mind staying at third base, the Yankees may want to look elsewhere for infield help.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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