Who is Jon Berti, Yankees trade acquisition just before Opening Day?
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Follow UsAs the dawn of the New York Yankees’ 2024 MLB season approached, they executed a frantic maneuver to reinforce their lineup. Just before the curtain rose, they finalized a three-team agreement securing the services of seasoned infielder Jon Berti for the Bronx.
Joh Berti’s arrival addresses several needs for the Yankees, offering versatility across multiple positions in case of injuries, while his remarkable speed renders him a valuable asset in late-game situations. Scouts attest that Joh Berti’s agility remains undiminished, positioning him as a dependable choice for igniting momentum on the base paths when the Yankees require a boost.
In exchange for Joh Berti, the Yankees dispatched catcher Ben Rortvedt to the Tampa Bay Rays and bid farewell to their 28th-ranked prospect, 18-year-old outfielder John Cruz, who will now hone his talents within the Miami Marlins organization. The Rays sweetened the deal by including outfielder prospect Shane Sasaki, completing the transaction that brought Berti to the Yankees.
With two years left on his contract (free agency in 2026, not 2025), Joh Berti appears to be a bargain compared to Rortvedt. The Yankees already boast a formidable defensive catcher in Carlos Narvaez, who could seamlessly fill in if injuries sideline Jose Trevino or rookie Austin Wells.
The Yankees’ interest in a versatile player like Joh Berti predates the injuries to LeMahieu and Peraza. They had previously explored similar options in Kike Hernandez (Dodgers) and Amed Rosario (Rays). However, their budget constraints, which incur a 110% penalty on excess spending, restricted their choices. Joh Berti’s reasonable $3.625 million salary in 2024 equates to a total cost of approximately $7.6 million for the Yankees, comfortably aligning with their financial plan.
Who is Jon Berti?
Veteran infielder Jon Berti experienced a breakout season, achieving a career-high batting average of .294 along with seven home runs and 33 runs batted in over 133 games. His versatility was evident as he adeptly handled multiple positions, starting 52 games at shortstop, 27 at third base, 11 in left field, and 10 at second base.
Although his career average stands at .258 with 23 homers in 436 games split between the Blue Jays (2018) and Marlins (2019-2023), Jon Berti displayed unexpected power in 2023. Furthermore, he continues to excel on the basepaths – despite playing a limited number of games in 2022, he led the league with 41 stolen bases in just 46 attempts.
The 34-year-old stands as a seasoned veteran in the major leagues, accumulating six years of experience, the most recent five spent as a stalwart presence for the Miami Marlins. Renowned for his versatility, Jon Berti has adeptly manned every position across the infield and outfield over the span of his 436-game career.
Though primarily recognized as an infielder, with substantial time logged at third base, shortstop, and second base, Jon Berti also boasts nearly 100 games of outfield experience. His prowess extends beyond fielding; he remains a constant threat on the base paths, tallying 92 career steals in 112 attempts, including a remarkable league-leading 41 swipes in just 102 games during the 2022 season.
Offensively, Jon Berti maintains a career batting line of .258/.337/.368, complemented by 23 home runs, 120 runs batted in, and 210 runs scored throughout his career.
The previous season marked a significant breakthrough for Berti. He appeared in a career-high 133 games for the Marlins, surpassing his previous records with an impressive .294 batting average, seven home runs, 33 RBIs, and 53 runs scored. Additionally, Jon Berti demonstrated his enduring base-stealing prowess by swiping 16 bases in 22 attempts.
This diverse skill set could seamlessly integrate into the Yankees‘ roster. Despite their lineup being packed with star talent and power hitters, Jon Berti introduces a vital speed component that complements players like Volpe.
During last season’s trade deadline, the Padres aggressively pursued Jon Berti. However, the Marlins, driven by a hunger for their first playoff berth in a full 162-game season since their 2003 World Series victory, opted to retain him. Jon Berti played a pivotal role in their Wild Card pursuit, starting a career-high 111 games across five positions and delivering a stellar .294 batting average along with 16 stolen bases, further solidifying his reputation after leading the league with 41 steals in 2022.
Despite Jon Berti’s contributions, the Marlins face challenges with ace Sandy Alcantara sidelined for the season and lingering concerns surrounding their infield defense and overall offensive output. Consequently, Miami appears poised for a potential decline from their 84-win campaign. As one scout keenly observed, Jon Berti’s skill set seems better suited for “a contender, not a rebuilder.”
With the starting lineup seemingly established – Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres, Anthony Volpe, and DJ LeMahieu anchoring the infield, and Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Alex Verdugo covering the outfield with Giancarlo Stanton serving as the designated hitter – Jon Berti seems slated for a pivotal bench role for the majority of the season.
Yet, injuries to two pivotal infielders have presented Jon Berti with an opportunity to potentially secure a starting position immediately.
Boone is high on Jon Berti
Yankees’ fresh face Jon Berti could be in for a whirlwind debut. From exchanging greetings with teammates at Minute Maid Park on Thursday morning, he might swiftly transition into the Opening Day lineup later that afternoon.
Manager Aaron Boone suggested the possibility of Jon Berti starting at third base over Oswaldo Cabrera during a Wednesday Zoom call with Yankees reporters. “The decision’s not set in stone,” Boone conceded. “We’ll need to assess how travel impacts him upon his arrival.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition. “Berti brings a multitude of skills to the table,” Boone remarked. “He’s a consistent hitter with adept contact abilities, and his base-stealing prowess adds another dimension to our lineup. Whether he assumes a regular starting role or provides depth as a utility player, we anticipate his significant contributions. We’re delighted to welcome him aboard, and pleased to have finalized this deal.”
The Yankees found themselves in need of additional infield depth following a setback in starting third baseman DJ LeMahieu’s recovery. LeMahieu sustained a bruised right foot from a hit by pitch on March 16th, and his healing process is not progressing as swiftly as initially hoped.
In LeMahieu’s absence, Jon Berti is poised to assume a significant role at third base.
“With DJ sidelined,” Boone acknowledged, “Berti becomes a pivotal figure at third base. Ideally, once everyone’s back in good health, he’ll offer versatility in the infield and even some outfield. We’re excited to have him and finalize this deal.”
While stepping in for LeMahieu, Jon Berti might find himself leading off against left-handed pitchers. However, for Opening Day, Boone intends to stick with Gleyber Torres in the leadoff spot, with Berti or Cabrera likely batting ninth.
“We’ll monitor the situation closely,” Boone noted. “Depending on how the season progresses, I may consider moving Gleyber back into the heart of the lineup for certain matchups.”
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
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Jon Berti is an excellent pick up, no doubt about it, BUT . . .
If the Yankees bench Oswaldo Cabrera for game 2 of the Houston series after he went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored & 1 RBI with the Biggest Hit of the Game, it will be confirmation that the Yankees have NO CLUE WHATSOEVER on how to bring along young talent.
Jon Berti has metaphorically been a Yankee for 30-seconds, while Cabrera has been a Yankee for year, who just had his biggest game his YOUNG CAREER as a Yankee. You do NOT dishearten & disrespect the kid by sitting him in game 2 to play a newcomer.
Imagine if it was YOU who had just played an errorless game in the field, scored 2 Runs (in a 5-4 win), gotten 2 Hits, including a game-changing HR, only to be benched the next day to play a guy who’s been a Yankee for a cup of coffee.
How would you feel? Would you SCREAM: “WTF!!! do I have to do to get some respect here?!!!” Or would you say, “Oh, gee, golly gosh, I guess I’ll just have to try hitting 2 or 3 home runs the next chance I get to play, whenever the hell that is?”
Before game 2 even starts, we’ll know whether Cashman & Boone have learned ANYTHING about how they mismanaged the development of Cabrera, Peraza, and Pereira in 2023.
Cashman is loathed to admit that he’s EVER made a mistake — which is pretty ballsy for a man who’s traded for Gallo, Montas, Bader, Donaldson & IKF — so it wouldn’t surprise me if he arrogantly insists that his newly acquired toy, Berti, starts in game 2 over Cabrera.
Cabrera earned the start in game 2 and, if he performs well again, you keep playing him, and use Berti as the roving sub he was envisioned to be. But you do NOT destroy the confidence & heart of a young player after he’s had the biggest game of his career. Only an idiot like Cashman would be stupid enough to do that!
And if anyone writes that Boone would have final say over whether Cabrera plays, please, don’t make me laugh that hard: I might start hyperventilating. Cashman traded Monty over the objection of basically Every Player on the Yankees; that’s how arrogant Cashman is: You peons know Nothing, and I, the Almighty Oz, know All.
Finally, the Yankees announcers were quick — too quick — to announce that Soto was the star of the game. Yes, Soto had a very good 1st game as a Yankee, but Cabrera’s HR was The Turning Point in the Game. Without his HR, Soto’s off-line throw to home would have been just to preserve a tie. Cabrera’s Clutch HR made that throw something special.
Can I gloat a bit after the Yankees won 7-1 in game 2 against the Astros, with Cabrera going 4 for 5 with 3 RBIs?
I have no idea whether the first two games are indicative of what Cabrera can do over the course of a season. He won’t continue hitting .667, obviously, but this does show what a young player MIGHT be capable of if he’s not jerked around all season, playing infrequently & switching positions constantly.
You can’t switch a young player from LF to 2B to 3B and play him once every 4-6 Days. A Veteran would have a hard time hitting consistently under those circumstances, and it’s exponentially Harder for a young player to do that.
I hope Cabrera keeps playing well, of course, but, more importantly, I hope the Yankees don’t bench him for several games when he inevitably goes 0-3 or 0-4. Young players need Consistent Playing Time to adapt to MLB pitching to Know that They Belong in The Majors. Hopefully, the Yankees are FINALLY realizing that.
Without Cabrera in the lineup the first 2 games, we could be 1-1 or 0-2, instead of 2-0.
Footnote: Thank god Rodón got his act together after that scary start. All I could envision during the first inning was the BOOOO BIRDS cursing & denigrating him in his first start in The Bronx this year, if he performed as he did last year for The Bronx Bombers.