New York Yankees: Matt Duffy and the value of defensive versatility

After the Tampa Bay Rays released him in November, Matt Duffy was officially looking for a job for the first time in years. The Texas Rangers came calling on January 30th, and the New York Yankees were interested, as well. He decided to go to the former based on greater possibilities of earning playing time, but couldn’t make the roster in the end and was left out of the Rangers’ 60-player pool.

But fortunately, the Yankees hadn’t forgotten about his name.

“It doesn’t always work out that way,” said Duffy, who signed a Minor League contract with the New York Yankees on June 28. “It was a very up-and-down couple hours. To get a call [from Rangers manager Chris Woodward] saying that you’re not coming to [Summer Camp] is not ideal. You start wondering where you’re going to be for the offseason, what you’re going to do in the meantime. To get the interest from the Yankees that was there in the offseason, I’m extremely thankful.”

While Yankees’ starting second baseman DJ LeMahieu will reportedly return to to camp this week, it is uncertain if he will be ready to defend his position on opening day next week. The Bombers have Tyler Wade, Thairo Estrada and even Gio Urshela as available players at the position, but Duffy is in the mix, as well.

The Yankees value versatility

He is a natural third baseman but has some experience at second, shortstop, and even first base. He offers a league average bat (.282/.338/.380 career line with a 101 wRC+) and defensive versatility.

“Nowadays with modern shifting and infield play, I think you’ve got to see yourself as a defender in the infield,” Duffy said. “If you see yourself as a third baseman or as a shortstop, you’re keyholing yourself into one spot. As shortstop, you’re playing really all over the diamond on both sides of the bag. As a third baseman, you’re playing the entire left side.

“Coming from Tampa Bay, where they like to move guys around a lot and play matchups as much as possible, I got a lot of work at different positions — maybe not game reps, but it’s certainly not a place that I’m uncomfortable.”
Time will tell who will replace LeMahieu, in case he needs to be replaced, of course. However, the Yankees have one nice fallback option in Duffy.