A collection of accidents robbed Jon Berti of an opportunity to make a better affect on the Yankees final 12 months.
Groin and calf points restricted the speedy infielder to 25 video games within the common season, whereas a hip flexor damage saved him off of the World Sequence roster.
Berti will try to ship a bounce-back season in 2025 with the Chicago Cubs.
Chicago reached a one-year, $2 million contract with Berti that features as much as $1.3 million in incentives, in accordance with MLB.com.
Berti, 35, is anticipated to supply depth in a Cubs infield that has Nico Hoerner at second base and prime prospect Matt Shaw within the combine at third base.
“We’ll just try to continue to bring in guys that can play multiple positions in the infield, give us that depth,” Chicago common supervisor Carter Hawkins stated at a Cubs fan pageant over the weekend, a number of days earlier than agreeing to phrases with Berti.
“Guys that would have experience of being able to play a Major League season and just gives us different alternatives.”
The Yankees acquired Berti from the Miami Marlins in a three-team commerce on the eve of Opening Day final March. Berti then batted .273 with a house run, six RBI and a .342 on-base share in 74 plate appearances and stole 5 bases.
Primarily a 3rd baseman for the Yankees, the righty-swinging Berti began three playoff video games at first base — regardless of having by no means performed the place on the MLB stage — after Anthony Rizzo suffered two damaged fingers within the second-to-last recreation of the common season.
A seven-year MLB veteran, Berti led the majors with 41 stolen bases in 2022 with Miami, then hit .294 in 424 plate appearances in 2023.
He has made greater than 100 appearances at third base, shortstop and second base in his profession and has additionally began in any respect three outfield positions.
Berti marks the newest departure from a Yankees infield that’s set to look totally different this season.
Second baseman Gleyber Torres signed a one-year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers, whereas the Yankees changed Rizzo at first base with Paul Goldschmidt, whom they signed for one 12 months at $12.5 million.
Anthony Volpe returns at shortstop, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. is ready to play second or third, relying on how the Yankees fill out the roster. DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera are among the many inner infield choices.
