Former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop has signed with the New York Yankees

Jon Heyman reported the Yankees are signing the veteran infielder, giving New York another right-handed option for the infield carousel. It's not a blockbuster, but it's the kind of move that quietly shapes April lineups.

DeJong is 32, a former St. Louis Cardinals fourth-round pick in 2015 who has bounced around the league the last few seasons. He's played both shortstop and third, and the glove, power mix has always been the pitch.

The bat is still loud enough to matter in a part-time role. In 2024 he hit .227 with 24 home runs and 56 RBIs across 139 games between the White Sox and Royals, his best homer total since his 2019 peak.

Toronto, of course, knows exactly what this player looks like up close. The Blue Jays traded for Paul DeJong at the 2023 deadline, hoping his postseason experience and right-handed pop would stabilize the infield.

It didn't stick, and that's the stingy part if you're a Jays fan reading this now. DeJong was released by Toronto a few weeks later, which tells you how quickly the fit and the at-bats went sideways.

So could the Blue Jays have brought him back this winter instead of letting the Yankees take the flier. Maybe, if the goal was simple depth with occasional pull-side power, and a defender who won't panic on a chopper.

From the Yankees angle, it's easy to see the path. DeJong can spell shortstop, cover third in a pinch, and run into a mistake fastball, all without demanding 600 plate appearances. If this is the move that bridges them to the next bigger decision, it's a tidy one.

Source: CBS Sports
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