The New York Yankees are reeling after a humiliating 12–5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night, and the fallout has sparked a firestorm of criticism. NJ.com’s Randy Miller unleashed a scathing critique of the team’s infield alignment, calling for an immediate overhaul and a blockbuster trade to fix the glaring hole at third base before the July 31 trade deadline.
In a column that pulled no punches, Miller demanded the Yankees reverse their baffling decision to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. from second base to third, urging a return to Chisholm’s natural position and a swift reassignment of DJ LeMahieu back to third. “The Yankees need to flip Chisholm and second baseman DJ LeMahieu immediately,” Miller wrote, his frustration palpable. “And then general manager Brian Cashman needs to make it a mission to deal for a better third baseman.”
The call for change comes as Chisholm, a dynamic talent known for his flair and athleticism, has struggled mightily at third base. The 26-year-old, acquired to inject energy into the lineup, was vocal about his discomfort after Tuesday’s loss. “Everybody knows I am a second baseman,” Chisholm told reporters, a sentiment Miller echoed emphatically. “It makes no sense why Chisholm was pulled off second in the first place. That’s his best position by far. He’s good there. He’s not good at third.”
Miller didn’t stop there, questioning the logic behind the initial switch. He speculated that the decision may have come from the front office or the team’s analytics department, noting that manager Aaron Boone has offered little clarity on the move. Boone, however, hinted post-game that a reversal could be on the horizon, a sign that the mounting pressure may finally force action.
With the American League East race tightening and the Yankees’ infield exposed as a weak link, Miller proposed a bold solution: trade for Arizona Diamondbacks’ third baseman Eugenio Suarez. The 33-year-old has been a revelation this season, smashing 26 home runs, driving in 69 RBIs, and batting .254 while delivering steady defense at the hot corner. Suarez’s power and reliability make him an ideal fit to shore up the Yankees’ infield and provide a spark for a postseason push.
But landing Suarez would come with complications. To accommodate him, the Yankees would need a reliable backup shortstop to protect Anthony Volpe, likely forcing them to carry Oswald Peraza on the roster. That move could create a logjam, potentially pushing the team to make a tough call—designating veteran DJ LeMahieu for assignment to free up space. It’s a decision that would prioritize performance over sentiment, a choice Miller insists the Yankees must embrace.
As the trade deadline looms and the AL East lead slips, the pressure is mounting on Brian Cashman to act decisively. Miller’s column captures the growing frustration among fans and analysts alike, demanding the Yankees fix their infield chaos and seize the opportunity to bolster their roster. With third base a glaring weakness and time running out, the question isn’t whether the Yankees will make a move—it’s whether they’ll have the guts to make the right one.