Yankees named potential future landing spot for All-Star shortstop from AL East

The New York Yankees recently promoted top prospect George Lombard Jr. to play shortstop for the foreseeable future. 

But Lombard's spot at the middle infield position may not be permanent if the Yankees manage to land an All-Star shortstop in a few years. 

Or, the Yankees could opt to move the former second-round pick to the hot corner. 

On Friday, FanSided's Jake Elman listed the Yankees as a top-five landing spot for Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles. 

Henderson won't reach free agency until the conclusion of the 2028 season, but it's never too early to speculate. His agent is Scott Boras, so there's a strong likelihood that he will not sign a long-term extension with the Orioles. 

Recently, ESPN's Buster Olney said on the "Just Baseball Show" that it's unlikely Henderson re-signs with Baltimore. 

Could the Yankees swoop in and grab the 25-year-old from their AL East rivals? 

"George Lombard Jr.’s arrival isn’t the sticking point here. Jazz Chisholm is a pending free agent, and Ryan McMahon only has one year of team control left," Elman wrote. 

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"However, McMahon has barely been a replacement-level third baseman, and he’s almost exclusively manned the hot corner since the start of 2022. Turning him into a backup utility man is far easier said than done," Elman added. 

Anthony Volpe's situation complicates matters. But the Yankees could move the former top prospect to second base to accommodate Henderson's arrival. 

Of course, a lot could change in the next two years. Henderson could prefer to stay with the Orioles, and this conversation could be all for nothing. 

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