Yankees stick with controversial infield alignment after ugly loss to Toronto originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Aaron Boone didn’t swat the question away, but the New York Yankees aren’t exactly answering it either.
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After back-to-back games filled with defensive miscues and growing calls for a change, the Yankees released their lineup Wednesday afternoon—and Jazz Chisholm Jr. is still at third base. DJ LeMahieu is at second.
For now, it’s status quo.
The infield alignment has been under the microscope after Chisholm’s latest throwing error from third in Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Blue Jays. It was his sixth error in just 28 games at the position, and the latest in a string of throws that haven’t looked confident or clean.
It took fire after Chisholm said “Everybody knows I am a second baseman.”
Wednesday, one beat writer blasted them for making the change and New York Post columnist Jon Heyman also said the switch was a mistake.
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New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu reacts against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on June 8, 2025.© John Jones-Imagn Images
YES Network analyst Jack Curry pointed out Tuesday night that Boone didn’t dismiss the idea of flipping Chisholm and LeMahieu when asked. “If Aaron Boone hears something that has no chance of happening,” Curry said, “he swats it away. He didn’t swat this one.”
Instead, he acknowledged it was something they’ve talked about—and that they’re always evaluating. That was enough to keep the speculation swirling heading into Wednesday.
The only real change in the lineup on Wednesday?
Ben Rice behind the plate. JC Escarra got the day off after two catcher’s interference calls Tuesday, including one that kept an inning alive during Toronto’s seven-run fifth. Escarra’s feel-good story continues, but so do his growing pains.
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As for the infield, the decision to stick with Chisholm at third doesn’t silence the critics. If anything, it just turns up the volume. At some point, if the throws keep missing their mark, the Yankees may not have the luxury of waiting.
For now, they’ll roll with what they’ve got—and hope it looks better than it did Tuesday.
Related: Yankees Insider Blasts Infield Plan and Pushes for Bold Trade
Related: Yankees Manager Hints at Potential Infield Shake-Up After Brutal Loss
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.