Yankees Sign Paul DeJong to Minor League Deal

The New York Yankees added veteran infielder depth on Sunday by agreeing to a minor league contract with Paul DeJong, a nine-year major league veteran who will receive an invitation to the team's major league spring training camp next month.

DeJong, 32, brings versatility to the Yankees' infield as they navigate early-season absences. A former fourth-round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015, he debuted in 2017 and quickly established himself as a power-hitting shortstop, finishing second in National League Rookie of the Year voting that season with 25 home runs in 108 games. He earned All-Star honors in 2019, when he hit 30 home runs and drove in 78 runs over 151 games. The Cardinals secured him with a six-year extension that carried through 2023, plus club options for the following two seasons.

However, DeJong's performance declined after his early promise. Following a shortened 2020 campaign, his batting average dipped below .200 in 2021 and 2022, though he maintained solid defense at shortstop and some power potential. Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the 2023 deadline, he struggled in limited action there and with the San Francisco Giants, posting a .129 batting...