Yankees’ plans for Amed Rosario revealed — after multi-year pursuit

The Yankees had tried to acquire Amed Rosario multiple times over the past few years.

Now that they finally got him, from the Nationals in a Saturday night trade for reliever Clayton Beeter and 18-year-old outfielder Browm Martinez, Rosario becomes the utilityman the Yankees have been missing since Oswaldo Cabrera broke his ankle in May.

The right-handed hitting Rosario, who was expected to be available off the bench for Sunday’s series finale against the Phillies after arriving from the airport shortly before first pitch, could form something of a platoon at third base with the lefty-swinging Ryan McMahon.

But the ex-Met will also be an option at second base and the corner outfield spots, manager Aaron Boone said Sunday, in addition to shortstop “in a pinch.”

“He provides some defensive versatility, speed and really hits lefties,” Boone said. “So I think it kind of makes our bench and the balance of our roster a little more workable. And hopefully, get him in some situations where he can impact us, but I think he helps us a lot.”

Rosario was batting .270 with a .736 OPS in 46 games for the Nationals this season.

For his career against lefties, he has hit .298 with a .799 OPS, which is how the Yankees will predominantly use him.

“I could definitely see him playing against the lefties and with his defensive versatility, more being that guy that’s a really versatile player off the bench for us,” Boone said.

As for his viability at shortstop, the position he came up at with the Mets, Rosario has only started 11 games there since the start of the 2024 season, and none since last August.

But if he is able to at least be an option there behind Anthony Volpe, he would make Oswald Peraza even more expendable.

“We got to look at short, he hasn’t been there in a while,” Boone said. “Certainly in a pinch, I could see that, but kind of viewing him more as third and second and in the corners in the outfield.”