The Yankees’ left side of the infield has become a mess, and that’s what makes the latest Zach Neto chatter so interesting.
Jose Caballero brings versatility, and he also brings the kind of pitch-clock gamesmanship that gets under people’s skin. Anthony Volpe is still Anthony Volpe, which is why so many people are pushing for George Lombard Jr. to eventually take over at shortstop. At third base, Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario have formed a pairing that hasn’t exactly solved anything.
That’s why the trade market is being watched so closely, even if it’s not easy to make sense of. A third baseman doesn’t look like the clean answer right now. Isaac Paredes had been viewed as a possible name if the Houston Astros sold, but Dana Brown’s recent comments suggest Houston plans to buy at the deadline instead.
Shortstop is a different conversation, at least potentially. It’s still unclear whether the Washington Nationals would actually move CJ Abrams, but Jeff Passan has said the Los Angeles Angels are at least willing to listen on Zach Neto.
The Angels are “at very least listening” to trade offers for Zach Neto, per @JeffPassan
Neto has 3 more years of control after the 2026 season. pic.twitter.com/HlhmNBIcFF
- Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) July 21, 2026
Neto wouldn’t come cheap, but he checks a lot of boxes for a Yankees club trying to patch a chronic problem and add a right-handed bat with power. The catch is that the fit at shortstop would be ugly. The better answer might be to move him to third base.
That idea makes a lot more sense once you dig into the defense. Through July 22, Neto has posted -7 outs above average at shortstop. Last year he was at -8, and in 2024 he finished at -6.
For those who care more about the old-school numbers, he’s also committed 14 errors and is sitting on a career-worst .962 fielding percentage. Only five of those errors have come on throws.
Defensive runs saved paints a different picture, giving Neto 2 DRS this season, 13 last year and 11 in 2024. But at shortstop, OAA is the better indicator because of the Statcast data behind it.
The issue is range, not arm strength. Neto’s average arm strength is 89.4 miles per hour, which ranks in the 83rd percentile. That arm would work just fine at third, where he’d also have less ground to cover.
There’s another wrinkle that helps the Yankees’ case: Neto wouldn’t block George Lombard Jr. Neto is 25 and under team control for three more seasons, so if Lombard Jr. doesn’t reach the majors this year, the two would eventually be headed for the same spot.
Playing them side by side might actually be the best outcome. Lombard Jr. has the profile to be at least a plus defensive shortstop, which would make Neto’s life easier.
The bat is the real draw anyway. Neto is hitting .238/.326/.446 with 19 homers and 13 steals, production that has him at a 114 mark. That’s nearly identical to the 116 and 115 marks he posted in 2025 and 2024.
He missed almost the entire first month last season and still finished with 26 home runs and 26 stolen bases. The upside is obvious: real 30-30 potential, with room to keep improving.
So if the Yankees are going to chase Neto, the move only works if they’re willing to get creative with where he plays. At third base, he could solve one problem without creating another.
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