A standoff is brewing in the New York Yankees organization, and it could cost them a veteran infielder they’ve stashed in the minors.

The Yankees signed only a few names this offseason who are yet to make their MLB debut with pinstripes, like Seth Brown and Zack Short, who were signed to minor league deals. However, not everyone in the minors is staying quiet as a signee from the Nationals chose to put the front office on notice.

“Paul DeJong gave the Yankees notice he’s planning to opt out at the end of the month if not promoted,” MLB insider Jon Heyman updated.

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32-year-old DeJong was an MLB regular till last year.

He played 57 games with the Nationals in 2025, hitting 6 HRs at .228. He made his MLB debut in 2017 and has since played with the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Giants, White Sox, and Royals. DeJong was selected for the 2019 All-Star team and currently has a career .229 average.

The Yankees signed DeJong to a minor league deal and kept him there since then. Right now, they have a healthy, high-performing infield and limited roster spots, making him veteran depth rather than a starter.

He was rumored to make it to the opening day roster, but couldn’t. Now, after a month in the Minors, DeJong chose to share an ultimatum.

He is currently hitting .213 with 6 homers and 13 RBIs in 78 at-bats in the minors, but is no longer willing to stay there. So, if the Yankees don’t promote him to MLB by the end of the month, their roster depth might be affected.

However, with Anthony Volpe getting closer to a return, it does seem unlikely the team will promote DeJong.

Volpe is reportedly joining the Yankees “between Wednesday and Thursday,” Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com noted.

And he is looking good so far in the minors, hitting .308. Volpe is set for his staple shortstop job, replacing Jose Caballero.

But the Yankees have Chisholm struggling at second base and Ryan McMahon struggling at third. While Jazz is going through a poor hard-hit rate with an AVG of .188, he has already made 2 defensive errors this season. He is even struggling with the ABS challenge system, standing at 1-for-7 so far.

Meanwhile, McMahon struggled with strikeouts, recording 25 in his first 13 games. The Yankees even used Amed Rosario at third base, often platoon-teaming with or replacing left-handed hitter Ryan McMahon.

Now, DeJong is a utility infielder, primarily playing shortstop throughout his career, while also seeing significant time at third base and second base.

For instance, in 2015, he played 27 games at second base and 20 at third base. Then again, in 2017, he played 4 games at second base and 3 games at third. His high walk rate (17.9% in the minors) shows a refined approach that can help the Bronx Bombers.

But his current stats in the minors might not be enough to convince Boone. And that could risk the team’s roster depth.

The Yankees’ roster depth will not help DeJong

The Yankees recently DFA’d Cade Winquest without playing him a single game. He was signed from the Cardinals and was the Yankees’ first Rule 5 Draft selection since 2011. Still, he couldn’t make it to the active roster before getting released.

Now, if DeJong opts out, the Yankees’ offense would take the hit, and that might be at their worst time.

Giancarlo Stanton is dealing with an injury, and chances are high that he will be on the IL. The Yankees optioned right-hander Luis Gil and promoted outfielder Jasson Dominguez to the active roster. So, with Dominguez on the MLB roster and Volpe’s return nearing, the Yankees’ depth chart in the minors will shrink further.

Despite that, chances are low to see DeJong donning pinstripes in MLB because the team has other promising prospects like George Lombard Jr. waiting in the minors.

This season, Lombard is hitting .324/.414/.595 with four HR and 10 RBI through 19 games in the Double-A level. He is also a shortstop.

So, even if the Yankees need to replace Volpe later, they have a 20-year-old Lombard over a 32-year-old DeJong. In that case, we wonder if DeJong opting out and checking for major league opportunities in other teams is a better option.