The New York Yankees are once again exploring the margins of roster construction, and this time the experiment involves turning Amed Rosario into something he has never been in the majors: a first baseman.
According to New York Post Sports+, the idea surfaced shortly after the Yankees re-signed Rosario earlier this offseason, when manager Aaron Boone asked the veteran utilityman a simple but telling question—did he have a first-base glove ready? Rosario has logged more than 7,700 innings across seven different positions in his big league career, everywhere except catcher and first base. Now, the Yankees plan to at least see if that final box can be checked.
At first glance, it feels like another example of the Yankees probing flexibility rather than committing to a true solution. Still, there is logic behind the experiment. Rosario is a right-handed bat who could complement lefty-hitting Ben Rice at first base, potentially allowing the Yankees to avoid spending additional money on a right-handed first baseman. Boone confirmed the plan, noting that Rosario will spend significant time at the Tampa complex in January, working first base into his defensive routine after briefly experimenting with it during his stint with Washington last season.
Why the Yankees Keep Chasing Defensive Flexibility
The larger context matters here. The Yankees are leaning heavily into versatility, in part because modern roster construction demands it. With 13 pitchers now standard on a major league staff, managers are left with just four bench players most nights. Boone has repeatedly stressed that the ability to move players around the diamond creates real in-game value, especially late in games when matchups, injuries, and pinch-hit decisions collide.
Rosario fits cleanly into that philosophy. After arriving at last season’s trade deadline, Boone deployed him at second base, third base, and right field. He overlapped with José Caballero, another super-utility option, while Oswaldo Cabrera remained sidelined after fracturing his ankle in May. When Cabrera returns in 2026, the Yankees could theoretically carry three players capable of covering nearly every position on the field, giving Boone far more freedom when constructing lineups or navigating extra-inning games.
That depth wasn’t always there. Before the deadline last year, the Yankees’ bench was often clunky and inflexible, especially after Cabrera’s injury. Outside of Ben Rice or Paul Goldschmidt, the bench offered little production and limited defensive versatility. Brian Cashman’s midseason additions of Rosario and Caballero helped stabilize that weakness, providing right-handed bats who could move around the diamond without becoming liabilities.
What Rosario’s Experiment Says About the Bigger Roster Picture
That ability to stay sharp matters as much as raw talent. Boone has openly praised Rosario’s professionalism, noting how he remained ready whether he played every day or sat for a week. Rosario also became a clubhouse presence, serving as an energy source and veteran sounding board for younger Latin players like Jasson Domínguez and Cabrera. Those intangibles often determine whether a utility role actually works over a full season.
Still, there is an obvious caveat. None of this flexibility will matter much if the Yankees fail to address their larger offseason questions. Bringing back Cody Bellinger remains a priority, and if that doesn’t happen, the bench composition shifts again. Rosario learning first base feels less like a bold strategic pivot and more like insurance against uncertainty elsewhere on the roster.
In that sense, this experiment says less about Rosario and more about where the Yankees are right now. They are searching for adaptability wherever they can find it, even if that means teaching a veteran infielder the only position he has never played. Whether it sticks or fades into spring-training trivia, it underscores a familiar truth in the Bronx: versatility is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.
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