Paul

DeJong

DeJong has been cut loose by the Tigers after suffering a season-ending leg injury earlier this month. The 32-year-old veteran shortstop has appeared in 925 career games over nine seasons in the majors since 2017.

DeJong was just signed two weeks ago, but has been unable to play for Triple-A Toledo since May 12. The 32-year-old will need to get healthy — and perform exceptionally well — to have any chance to help the Tigers in 2026.

DeJong was with the Yankees to begin the season but opted out of his contract at the end of April after not getting any MLB at-bats. With Javier Baez (ankle) sidelined, DeJong has a chance to push for sporadic playing time in Detroit. The veteran was hitting .213/.359/.541 in 22 games at Triple-A with six home runs and 13 RBI.

With Anthony Volpe coming off the IL on Thursday, it would seem likely that DeJong will not be promoted by the end of April. The 32-year-old is also hitting .213/.359/.541 in 22 games at Triple-A with six home runs and 13 RBI. He will likely be a free agent by May.

It’ll most likely be J.C. Escarra, Paul Goldschmidt, Amed Rosario and Randal Grichuk in bench roles for the Yankees to open the season. Cabrera has hit .234/.295/.346 with 20 homers and 15 steals in 949 plate appearances for the Yankees since 2022. Schuemann was acquired from the Athletics in a trade last month and projects as a utility infielder at the highest level.

Cabrera is going through drills and appears to be moving well, but has not practiced sliding yet and has not appeared in any spring games. Cabrera is set to begin the season as a utility player off the bench, so if he were to start the year on the injured list, that would open up a chance for Amed Rosario to see more playing time and Paul DeJong, Zack Short, Braden Shewmake, or Jorbit Vivas, who all have no minor league options, to make the Yankees Opening Day roster

Domínguez enters a pivotal spring training without a clear avenue to regular playing time after New York re-signed veterans Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham earlier this offseason. The 23-year-old former top prospect could potentially wind up back at Triple-A to continue his development by playing everyday. These situations have a way of sorting themselves out but it’s clear that Domínguez will offer minimal fantasy appeal in a reduced role at the highest level. Here is the full lineup: Domínguez (LF), Aaron Judge (RF), Ryan McMahon (3B), Paul Goldschmidt (DH), Seth Brown (1B), Paul DeJong (SS), Spencer Jones (CF), Max Schuemann (2B) and Ali Sánchez (C).

DeJong, 32, appeared in 57 games for the Nationals in 2025, slashing a meager .228/.269/.373 with six homers, 23 RBI and a 70/11 K/BB ratio across 208 plate appearances. He’ll function as extra infield depth for the Bombers and can be ignored for fantasy purposes.

The rookie has hit just .224 in 48 games since the All-Star Break with two home runs, 19 runs scored, 17 RBI, and three steals. He is presumably the favorite to start at third base for Washington in 2026, given his draft pedigree, but the team will need to see some improvement from him in the off-season. Paul DeJong will get the start at third base on Wednesday.

After giving several guys off Sunday, the Nationals are back with more of their core lineup today, with the exception being that Paul DeJong is again starting over House. Prior to yesterday, House had started five straight games at third and nine out of 10. DeJong, though, doubled twice yesterday, which apparently earned him the nod. House is batting .239/.253/.339 in 241 plate appearances as a 22-year-old rookie. Statcast thinks he’s been pretty unlucky, what with his 47% hard-hit rate, but he wouldn’t seem to have locked up a spot for 2026.