The New York Yankees reportedly are acquiring infielder Jon Berti from the Miami Marlins in a three-team deal that involves the Tampa Bay Rays as well, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com.

The Yankees are sending prospect John Cruz to the Marlins, according to De Nicola. The Rays are sending outfielder Shane Sasaki to the Marlins in the deal, while they get catcher Ben Rortvedt from the Yankees, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

For the Yankees, the addition of Jon Berti gives them an extra infielder to use in the early part of the season as they deal with the injuries to DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza. Berti has experience playing second base, third base and shortstop. The Yankees have an immediate need at third base, as Oswaldo Cabrera was slated to be the Opening Day third baseman before this trade. Berti will likely play at third for the most part.

The Marlins acquire two prospects in this deal to try to help their long-term future, and give up an infielder who is better suited as a utility player on a team trying to contend.

The Rays did this deal to get a backup catcher in Ben Rortvedt. Tampa Bay only had one catcher on the active roster Rene Pinto prior to this deal. The Yankees had a glut of catchers on the active roster, with Rortvedt being the clear third option behind Jose Trevino and Austin Wells, who are expected to split duties this season.

Jon Berti's role with Yankees

New York Yankees third baseman DJ LeMahieu (26) singles during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at George M. Steinbrenner Field
© Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

As the Yankees open the season in Houston against the Astros on Thursday, Burti will likely be tasked with playing third base for the majority of the time. DJ LeMahieu is starting the season on the injured list with a foot injury, although there is some optimism that he could return relatively soon.

Before Berti was traded to the Yankees, Oswaldo Cabrera was slotted to play third base on Opening Day, as mentioned above. Oswald Peraza would have had a great chance to prove his worth at the major league level if he was healthy, as he was the next man up behind LeMahieu in the pecking order in the infield, but he is dealing with a shoulder injury.

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Cabrera has been viewed as a utility player for the Yankees since he was a prospect. He can play the infield and outfield, and showed some promise during the 2022 season after he was called up. However, he struggled mightily offensively in 2023 at the major league level. Although it is not wise to write a young player off, it was not ideal that he was going to be the starting third baseman on Opening Day.

After LeMahieu returns, Berti will likely go to a utility infielder role, and potentially a pinch runner role. He stole 41 bases in 105 games in 2022.

Berti will likely get a lot of playing time early on, and it will be worth monitoring his performance before LeMahieu eventually returns to the lineup.