Could Yankees' Oswaldo Cabrera become a hit at third base?

NORTH PORT, Fla. — The plan for spring training all along was for utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera to get “the bulk” of his playing time at third base, in Aaron Boone’s words.

Unless the Yankees make a trade before the end of camp, something that can’t be ruled out, it looks as if it’s going to play out that way in the regular season, too.

At least at the start.

DJ LeMahieu tweaked his left calf on Saturday in the injury-plagued veteran’s first game of spring training, and there’s no reason to expect him back anytime soon.

The organizational hope entering spring training was that LeMahieu, a two-time batting champion, could a) stay healthy and b) show at least some of the form that made him a three-time All-Star. At best, he would demonstrate that he could be the everyday third baseman. At worst, he could platoon with the switch-hitting Cabrera, a natural shortstop coming up through the Yankees’ system who has proved himself adept at whatever position he’s been asked to play, whether it be any of the infield positions, leftfield or rightfield.

Cabrera, 26, has been among the most popular Yankees in the clubhouse since his debut in 2022 because of a never-leaves-his-face smile and the outward joy with which he greets every teammate, staff member and even media member with whom he comes into contact.

What he hasn’t done since making his big-league debut in 2022 is consistently hit. Cabrera, signed by the Yankees as an international free agent in 2015 at the age of 16 out of Venezuela, has hit a combined .233 with a .643 OPS over the past three seasons.

One National League scout assigned to the Yankees and their system the last half-decade said he believes Cabrera has been hurt offensively because of the focus on learning multiple positions and his lack of consistent at-bats.

“I have thought for the last two seasons he should be given a chance to play every day,” the scout said via text Sunday. “Seems like he gets penalized for his ability to play other positions. If he could get consistent ABs, I think he will [hit]. He comes into the league and plays two, three days a week. Hard to ever tell with a guy like that. With an opportunity every day, he can relax and play.”

Marcus Stroman, who started Sunday and struggled with his sinker in allowing four runs and four hits in 2 2⁄3 innings of an 11-1 loss to Atlanta, echoed what the scout said when it came to Cabrera getting consistent playing time, bringing it up unprompted.

“Super-versatile. One of those guys you want on your team. Can play anywhere, can do anything. You feel like he’s always going to give you a consistent AB,” Stroman said.

“You know the type of effort he’s going to bring day in and day out. I think everybody in this clubhouse loves Oswaldo. Looking forward to seeing him get everyday reps because I feel like that’s something he hasn’t consistently been able to do. You really don’t know the true potential of a player until he has consistency, so I think everyone’s excited to see that from him.”

Cabrera, who walked twice Sunday in three plate appearances, said he is “ready” for an everyday role.

“I’ve been working to play every day,” he said. “In the minors I was playing every single day, so I feel it’s something I can handle.”

With starting shortstop Anthony Volpe not on this trip, Cabrera got the start at short on Sunday — he moved to first base later in the game — and Oswald Peraza started at third.

Peraza, 24, who at one point was considered an organizational prospect at Volpe’s level but has not hit when given a chance in the majors, is out of options and would get scooped up quickly by one of the other 29 teams if he’s not on the roster when camp breaks.

Boone said on Sunday that the fact that Peraza — a natural shortstop who has shown some ability at third when given sporadic chances there — is out of options “could” impact whether he makes the roster as a reserve.

“I think Oswald’s still got to earn that, though,” Boone said of the infielder, who went 1-for-3 Sunday.

“[I] feel like he’s really playing the position well. You’re seeing his defensive ability show. So far he’s put together pretty good at-bats, too. He could very much put himself in the mix.”

Notes & quotes: Stroman, who gave up back-to-back homers by Austin Riley and Matt Olson in a span of three pitches in the first inning, is all but guaranteed to fill Luis Gil’s rotation spot after the reigning American League Rookie of the Year pulled himself from a bullpen session Friday because of tightness in his upper arm/shoulder area. Gil underwent an MRI Saturday.