Yankees move All-Star infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. from third base back to second

NEW YORK (AP) — All-Star infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. is moving back to second base with the New York Yankees in place of DJ LeMahieu, who is heading to the bench.

New York also put reliever Mark Leiter Jr. on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to Monday, with a stress fracture in his left leg. Clayton Beeter was recalled from Triple-A, and fellow right-hander Cam Schlittler will be called up Wednesday night to start against Seattle in his major league debut.

Chisholm began the season at second, his most natural position after breaking into the big leagues there with Miami five years ago. But he played third for the Yankees last year and had been starting there again since returning in early June from a right oblique strain — after New York third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera broke his left ankle May 12.

LeMahieu came off the injured list the following day and, although he has plenty of experience at both spots, has made all 35 of his starts this year at second base.

LeMahieu won three Gold Gloves at second with Colorado from 2014-18 — and another one in a utility role with the Yankees in 2022. But he turns 37 on Sunday and his range has been diminished by a series of toe, foot and hip injuries.

Chisholm, meanwhile, has made some wild throws from third lately while hampered by a sore shoulder, and New York has been shaky overall on defense at times.

“Obviously, the last week was a little bit of a struggle for him over at third. I think part of that is just being a little banged up and not being able to do some of his prep work that allows him to stay on top of things at third,” manager Aaron Boone said. "But I think just letting his athleticism go in the middle of the diamond is something that serves him and us well.”

Chisholm is batting .247 with 15 homers, 39 RBIs and an .846 OPS after hitting an RBI double Tuesday night in a 10-3 victory over the Mariners. He was selected to the AL All-Star team Sunday, when he sat out a 6-4 win over the New York Mets that snapped the Yankees' second six-game losing streak since mid-June.

The two-time All-Star played second base in the series opener versus Seattle, with Oswald Peraza starting at third and batting ninth.

"Just with what we’ve gone through here the last week, and again, Jazz not being able to lean into some of the throwing stuff that he would normally do, just felt like it made sense to do this right now,” Boone said. “He’s good with it. ... He’s ready to go do his thing there.”

The manager called it a “fluid” situation and was asked what the plan is at third base going forward.

“It’s Peraza tonight — and we’ll see,” he said.

The 25-year-old Peraza can play second, third and shortstop — but he is batting only .157 with three homers, 14 RBIs and a .487 OPS.

"I think wherever you put him on the diamond, the defense has been phenomenal. He’s a really talented defender," Boone said. "I still think there’s that upside and talent in there offensively, too. I mean, he’s got pop, he’s got athleticism, he can drive the ball the other way with authority. But it has been a struggle offensively when he’s gotten the reps.”

LeMahieu is hitting .266 with two homers, 12 RBIs and a .674 OPS. The three-time All-Star and two-time batting champion has a .310 average in his last 31 games since June 1.

Boone said the Yankees have no plans to play LeMahieu at third at the moment because “physically it’s a challenge for him right now.”

He'll have some sort of role as a right-handed bat off the bench, and Boone was asked how LeMahieu took the news.

“Not great, necessarily. But that’s kind of the situation we’re in right now,” the manager said.

Leiter is 4-6 with a 4.46 ERA and two saves in 41 appearances covering 34 1/3 innings. He said he got injured covering first base June 24 in Cincinnati but had been pitching through the issue until it really became a problem this past weekend.

Tests revealed the stress fracture, and there was no timetable yet for the right-hander's return.

Luis Gil is expected to throw about 50 pitches and three innings during his first minor league rehab start Sunday. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year has been sidelined since spring training by a right lat strain.

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New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. looks on from the dugout after a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Yankees second base DJ LeMahieu (26) grounds out Athletics' Max Muncy (10) during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

New York Yankees pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. delivers during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

New York Yankees' DJ LeMahieu dives for a ball hit by Athletics' Nick Kurtz for a single during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) throws to first base but Toronto Blue Jays' Davis Schneider, not pictured, is safe during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

The first stage of Mohamed Salah’s rehabilitation at Liverpool is complete after the Egypt forward returned to the team for its 2-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The question now as Salah heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations: Is there a future for him at Anfield when he comes back?

Salah, who let rip last weekend about his current frustrations at Liverpool, entered as a 26th-minute substitute to a big ovation and set up the second of Hugo Ekitike’s goals as the defending champion extended its unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.

Also Saturday, Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 and was set on its way to victory by Cole Palmer’s first goal in three months. First-place Arsenal hosts last-place Wolverhampton later.

Salah held talks with Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Friday in an effort to overcome their issues and the result was that Salah was recalled to the matchday squad for the Brighton game. He had been a substitute for the last three Premier League matches before being left at home for the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan as a punishment for his explosive comments to reporters last weekend.

“It was an easy decision to put him in the squad," Slot said. “I have said many times before what has been said between us will stay between us.”

Liverpool's fans demonstrated they are willing to excuse Salah for his show of anger and gave him a rapturous welcome when he came on as a substitute for the injured Joe Gomez midway through the first half.

By then, Liverpool was leading 1-0 thanks to Ekitike's rising shot inside the first minute and Salah showed glimpses of his class, especially on the counterattack. It was Salah's corner kick that was headed in by Ekitike for the second goal in the 60th, sparking another round of chants for the Egyptian.

Slot said Salah was a threat all game.

“Pleasing to see but not a surprise,” Slot said.

Salah could be away for more than a month if Egypt goes all the way in the Africa Cup.

It was a second straight start for Palmer, whose season has been blighted by a groin injury that has restricted him to seven games in all competitions.

There looked to be nothing wrong with Palmer when he ran onto Malo Gusto's pass and slipped a finish inside the near post to give Chelsea the lead in the 21st minute at Stamford Bridge.

However, Palmer said after the game that he wasn't at his best yet because he was “still dealing with an injury.”

“It’s just a matter of not doing too much too soon,” Palmer told the BBC. “Literally, it’s just a day-by-day thing. Hopefully it gets better.”

Gusto added the second goal in the 45th minute for Chelsea, which jumped to fourth place.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

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Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Everton in London, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool fans hold placard depicting Liverpool's Mohamed Salah before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, challenges for the ball with Brighton's Lewis Dunk during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)