The New York Yankees received news on veteran infielder Paul DeJong, who has decided to opt out of his contract to become a free agent after the club declined to add him to the big-league roster, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
The roster development comes ahead of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, kicking off on Friday, May 1. DeJong had the ability to get out of the minor league deal he inked with New York this offseason, given his MLB tenure and the timing of the agreement. He’ll now head to free agency in search of a new home.
DeJong seemed like a potential fit on a club that was missing Anthony Volpe to start the season. Instead, he was stuck at Triple-A, where he bashed six home runs in just 23 games. DeJong has spent parts of nine MLB seasons with six different teams.
New York Yankees News Update: Paul DeJong to Opt Out of Contract
DeJong signed with the Yankees in January. The 32-year-old was coming off a mediocre season as a part-time player with the Washington Nationals. DeJong slashed .228/.269/.373 with six home runs across 57 games in D.C. The veteran took a pitch to the face in April, which could’ve derailed his season. DeJong missed more than two months with a fractured nose after the incident.
The St. Louis Cardinals took DeJong in the fourth round of the 2015 draft. He emerged as one of the best power-hitting infielders in the league when he debuted in 2017. DeJong bashed 25 home runs as a rookie, finishing with a 123 wRC+. Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger took home National League Rookie of the Year honors, but DeJong finished second. The Cardinals‘ shortstop hit 30 home runs in 2019, earning an All-Star selection.
Strikeouts have been DeJong’s downfall as he’s gotten deeper into his career. He was teetering on the edge of being too punchout-prone at the outset of his tenure in St. Louis, and the issue only got worse as pitchers began to figure him out. DeJong struck out at an untenable 33.3% clip in 2022. That number remained above 30% the following season. The Cardinals dealt him to the Toronto Blue Jays that year. He’s since bounced around to the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, and Kansas City Royals.
What Does the DeJong Decision Mean for Anthony Volpe?
The departure of DeJong from the organization might reveal where Volpe is at as he works his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. The shortstop recently moved up to Triple-A as part of his rehab progression. Volpe has played 10 minor league games this season. He’s slashing .303/.324/.394 in 34 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A.
Jose Caballero has taken the majority of the reps at shortstop with Volpe sidelined. The utility player has delivered a respectable .713 OPS over 112 plate appearances. Volpe’s absence also led to an opportunity up the middle for third baseman Ryan McMahon. The former Colorado Rockies infielder made his first career start at shortstop earlier this season. He’d logged just three innings in the big leagues at the position before 2026. McMahon’s slumping bat could provide an opportunity for Caballero to remain in the lineup when Volpe comes back.
Yankees Lose All-Star Infielder After Contract Decision