INFIELD REINFORCEMENT: DISCOVER WHY THE YANKEES TRADED FOR ATHLETICS UTILITY MAN MAX SCHUEMANN
The Yankees acquired Max Schuemann from the Athletics for Luis Burgos, DFA-ing Yanquiel Fernandez to bolster infield depth for 2026.
Pitchers and catchers are almost back—less than a week now until spring training. But teams aren’t done tinkering. The Yankees just proved it, swinging a trade with the Athletics to shore up their infield depth.
According to Bob Nightengale from USA Today, the Yankees picked up infielder Max Schuemann from Oakland in exchange for righty Luis Burgos. To make room, they’ll designate Yanquiel Fernandez for assignment.
Schuemann used to be a top prospect with the A’s, but things haven’t really clicked for him in the majors. Oakland added Andy Ibáñez and bumped Schuemann off the roster, which is when the Yankees pounced. They’re not complaining; you can never have too much infield depth.
Schuemann’s time in the big leagues has been a mixed bag. He was No. 21 on Oakland’s prospect list heading into 2024 and finally broke through to the majors that year. In his rookie season, he played a whopping 133 games, hit .220, and posted a .619 OPS. Seven home runs, 34 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases—plus, he played everywhere in the infield except first base and catcher.
Things got rough last year, though. Schuemann’s bat cooled off—he slashed just .197/.295/.273 with two homers, 13 RBIs, seven steals, and a 0.2 bWAR. Again, he bounced all over the field, but the offence just wasn’t there. The thing is, his defence is solid—a plus-8 Outs Above Average kept him around for 101 games.
The Yankees need him to hit. The glove plays, no question, but he won’t crack the 26-man roster unless his bat picks up. Realistically, Schuemann probably starts the year in the minors.
Where does he fit in New York? The Yankees have no shortage of infielders. Jazz Chisholm, Jose Caballero, and Ryan McMahon are pencilled in as starters. Don’t forget Anthony Volpe—he’ll miss the start of the season, but Aaron Boone trusts him when he’s back.
Schuemann can handle the outfield, too, but the Yankees are loaded there. Judge, Bellinger, and Grisham—they’re not moving aside. A starting role at Yankee Stadium just isn’t in the cards for Schuemann.
Still, he’s got a shot at a bench job. With his versatility and strong glove, he could edge out some of New York’s other utility guys. Amed Rosario and Oswaldo Cabrera are in the mix as well, so it won’t be easy.
Bottom line: Schuemann will get his chance this spring. If he hits, he’s got a real shot at making the team. If not, well, there’s always room for solid defence and versatility, but he’ll have to earn it.
"THAT’S CUTE": TOM BRADY SAVAGES LOGAN PAUL’S NFL DREAMS ON IMPAULSIVE PODCAST
Tom Brady calls Logan Paul’s WWE skills "cute" during a heated podcast debate over their upcoming March flag football game.
YouTuber and WWE star Logan Paul went toe-to-toe with Tom Brady, trying to convince the NFL legend that his athletic skills could hang with current pro football players.
Brady, who’s got seven Super Bowl rings and a real claim to being the best to ever play, showed up on Paul’s Impaulsive podcast this week. At one point, Paul brought up that he’d been invited to join the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Saudi Arabia this March. Brady had already announced he’d play, along with big names like Saquon Barkley, Ceedee Lamb, and Myles Garrett.
Once the game came up, Brady didn’t hold back. He said he was honestly worried about whether Paul could keep up. Paul fired back, saying he wouldn’t look out of place next to the NFL’s elite.
Their back-and-forth got heated:
BRADY: I have to be real, I’m a little worried about you, man—
PAUL: Worried about me?
BRADY: Look, you’re a good athlete, but these guys? They’re just on another level.
PAUL: I am the level. I am at the highest level.
BRADY: No, you’re not.
PAUL: Yes, I am.
BRADY: You’re a good athlete—
PAUL: —Great athlete.
BRADY: But when I think about guys like Saquon Barkley, Odell Beckham, Justin Jefferson...
PAUL: Come on, man. Can Saquon Barkley do a flip off the top rope? Land an 180 moonsault?
BRADY: That’s cute. I love WWE, really, but this is real football. Real competition.
PAUL: I was an all-state linebacker. Senior year, I rushed for 1,200 yards and scored 19 touchdowns.
BRADY: Sure, but let’s see if you still have it. We all have a past—hey, I won seven Super Bowls. Nobody cares now. What matters is this game in March, in Saudi Arabia. I’m glad you’re coming. Finally, you get to play in something that actually counts.
PAUL: This guy’s wild. The nerve of Tom Brady. Seven Super Bowls, and he thinks he can just hype up a flag football game like it’s the Pro Bowl.
BRADY: Oh, it’s going to be way better than that.
After the episode, Brady even joked on social media, “I was having a great morning, and now I’m mad.”
On a more serious note, Brady and other athletes have taken heat for teaming up with the Saudi government on these sports projects. Critics say the Saudis are pouring money into sports to take attention away from their country’s human rights issues.
UNLIKELY PRAISE: LUKA DONCIC SHOCKS FANS BY NAMING DILLON BROOKS HIS FAVORITE OPPONENT
Luka Doncic calls Dillon Brooks the NBA's best trash-talker as the Lakers prepare for the Spurs without their big three.
Lakers star Luka Dončić isn’t shy about who he likes competing against. When asked who talks the most trash in the NBA, he didn’t hesitate: “Dillon Brooks.” Not only that, but he said he actually enjoys playing against the Suns guard. “He’s been playing well this year,” Doncic added. That’s a bit of a twist, considering Brooks and LeBron James have been at each other’s throats all season.
Right now, the Lakers could use any bit of good news. Injuries have hit hard. Doncic, LeBron, and Austin Reaves are all out for their game against the Spurs. They’re still sitting fifth in the West, but this season hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing.
Drama follows the Lakers like a shadow, and most of it seems to swirl around LeBron. Brooks has made a habit of going after James every time the Lakers face the Suns, jawing at him from the opening tip. LeBron’s not a fan, and his teammates have always backed him up well, until Doncic decided to give Brooks a little credit. It’s not a shot at LeBron, but in L.A., even a compliment can turn into a headline.
As for Doncic, he’s doing pretty much everything for the Lakers this year. He leads the league in scoring, 32.8 points a night, while handing out 8.6 assists and grabbing nearly eight rebounds. He’s shooting better, too, up to 47.3% from the field. With him running the show, LeBron has had to adjust. The 41-year-old is still putting up solid numbers, but he’s not the main guy anymore. That’s new territory for him.
The Lakers just want to get healthy and make a push after the All-Star break. They’ll regroup, try to climb the standings, and hope the drama stays on the sidelines for once. But when the season wraps up, everyone’s going to be talking about LeBron’s future in L.A. For now, though, Doncic is just enjoying the battles, even if it means giving a little love to the league’s loudest trash-talker.