According to Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic, Chicago Cubs infielder Jon Berti could be the team's primary backup first baseman during the 2025 season. The team signed Berti to a one-year contract worth $2 million earlier in the offseason. Last season, Berti logged just 25 starts with the Yankees as he battled a calf injury. During this small stint, he posted a .273/.342/.318 line with five stolen bases. During the 2023 season, Berti logged 133 games with the Miami Marlins and held a .294/.344/.405 slash line. He swiped 16 bags and added 16 doubles. Berti stole a career-high 41 bases during the 2022 season. With the Cubs trading Cody Bellinger to the Yankees, Berti could contend for the No. 2 role at first base behind Michael Busch. Fantasy managers in NL-only formats should monitor his progress during spring training as he could find a path to occasional starts in the infield.

Free-agent infielder Jon Berti and the Chicago Cubs agreed to one-year, $2 million deal on Wednesday, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The deal includes $1.3 million in incentives. Berti will head to the National League Central and the north side of Chicago after spending last year with the New York Yankees, where he played in only 25 games due to a calf injury. In 74 trips to the plate, he hit .273 (18-for-66) with a homer, six RBI and five stolen bases in the Bronx. The 35-year-old could see decent playing time at third base for the Cubbies in 2025 after they traded Isaac Paredes to the Houston Astros this winter in exchange for All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker. Still, third base prospect Matt Shaw should be up in the big leagues sooner than later, and Berti doesn't have much fantasy outside of his positional versatility and speed -- he stole a league-high 41 bases just two seasons ago in Miami.

The New York Yankees non-tendered infielder Jon Berti and left-hander Tim Mayza on Friday, making them both free agents. Berti, 34, stole a league-high 41 bases just two years ago in 2022 with the Miami Marlins, but he was limited to 25 games at the big-league level in 2024 in his first year in the Bronx. In his 74 plate appearances, he hit .273 (18-for-66) with a homer, six RBI and five steals. Berti's speed, on-base abilities and defensive versatility should land him a job somewhere on the open market as a utility man in 2025. Mayza, 32, had a rough start to the year with the Toronto Blue Jays with an ERA over 8.00 in 35 relief appearances, but he was better (4.00 ERA) in 18 relief innings for New York in the second half of the season. He was a successful high-leverage arm for Toronto several years ago and will be looking to bounce back somewhere else in 2025.

New York Yankees infielder Jon Berti (hip) was left off the World Series roster with a hip flexor injury according to Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Berti suffered this injury during Game 4 of the ALCS when he was running the bases. This allowed pitcher Nestor Cortes to return to the roster. During October, Berti went 2-for-11 with a 1:3 BB:K ratio. In the regular season, the 34-year-old utility man held a solid .273 AVG and .342 OBP with five steals through 25 games in the Bronx. Berti should remain deep league option for his speed in 2025 as he has shown little power upside throughout his big league career.

New York Yankees infielder Jon Berti is back at first base and is hitting ninth in the batting order on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals and right-hander Michael Wacha in Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Kauffman Stadium. Berti received his first professional start at first base in the Game 2 loss on Monday and went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. The 34-year-old will return to the cold corner on Thursday, pushing the left-handed-hitting Oswaldo Cabrera back to the bench as the Yankees look to clinch the ALDS and move on to the Championship Series. Berti has only faced Wacha once in his career and did not come away with a hit. Injuries limited him to only 25 games in the regular season in his first year with the Yankees, and he went 18-for-66 (.273) with only one home run, six RBI and five steals in his limited action. Berti is best avoided in DFS contests on Thursday.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he's still "deliberating on" who will play first base for Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium against the Kansas City Royals. Infielder Jon Berti got the starting nod there in the Game 2 loss on Monday and has had some success against Royals right-hander Seth Lugo, going 3-for-6 against him in his career. Berti made his first career start at first base on Monday and went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. The other options for the Yankees are Oswaldo Cabrera, who got the start in Game 1 on Saturday, and rookie Ben Rice. The 34-year-old Berti missed significant time during the regular season due to injury and only managed to play in 25 games for the Yankees in his first year in the Bronx, going 18-for-66 (.273) with one homer, six RBI and five steals. He lacks power but did steal a league-leading 41 bags in 2022 with Miami.

New York Yankees infielder Jon Berti (calf) will continue his minor-league rehab assignment through Sunday and will play "a handful of days next week, too," according to manager Aaron Boone. Berti started his rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Aug. 24 and has gone 3-for-19 (.158) with a homer in his first seven games. Berti suffered a left-calf strain on May 24 and aggravated the injury during the All-Star break in mid-July, which is why he hasn't been able to rejoin the big-league club yet. He was moved to the 60-day injured list on June 12 and has been given at least two platelet-rich plasma injections. At the earliest, the 34-year-old utility infielder won't be back in the Bronx until late next week. He's had only 55 at-bats in 2024 and is hitting .273 with a homer, six RBI and four stolen bases for the Yanks.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone believes infielder/outfielder Jon Berti (calf) will start a minor-league rehab assignment on Friday. Berti has been recovering from a strained left calf since May 24, re-aggravating the injury during the All-Star break in July. When he returns, the 34-year-old veteran utility man will offer the Yankees some speed and another option to help fill their gaping hole at third base. In 17 games this season, Berti has gone a solid 15-for-55 (.273) with six RBI and four stolen bases. If Jazz Chisholm Jr. (elbow) beats him back to the Bronx, however, Berti will likely be restricted to the occasional spot start and pinch-runner duties off the bench.

New York Yankees infielder Jon Berti (calf) continues to do some hitting and fielding at the team's spring training complex in Tampa and could start a minor-league rehab assignment next week. Because of the fact that Berti hasn't played in a game since May 24 due to his calf injury, he could require a pretty lengthy rehab assignment before rejoining the Yankees' major-league roster. The 34-year-old veteran isn't going to have much fantasy appeal, either, in a utility role for the Yankees. However, his return will be a welcomed sight with Jazz Chisholm Jr. (elbow) potentially needing season-ending UCL surgery. Berti was only able to play in 17 games for the Yankees earlier this year before his injury, going 15-for-55 (.273) with a homer, six RBI and four stolen bases. At best, Berti could be worth a roster spot in AL-only leagues for his speed.

New York Yankees infielder Jon Berti (calf) hit and played catch on Monday before the team's contest against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, according to manager Aaron Boone. Berti had a setback recently with his injured left calf and required a platelet-rich plasma injection, but he's not shut down and is already doing baseball activities. As long as he doesn't suffer a setback, the 34-year-old veteran should be able to go on a minor-league rehab assignment soon. In his first year with the Bronx Bombers, Berti has hit .273/.322/.327 with a homer, six RBI and four stolen bases in just 17 games played. He's been out since late May and will be a utility infield option for the Yanks whenever he returns, limiting his fantasy value to AL-only leagues.

New York Yankees infielder Jon Berti (calf) had a "minor" setback with his calf, according to manager Aaron Boone, and will get a platelet-rich plasma injection on Saturday. Berti was in line to play in minor-league rehab games this weekend, but that has now been put on hold after his setback. He has been out since late May with his calf injury but could still return before the end of July if he's able to start a rehab assignment sooner than later. The 34-year-old infielder will only be worth consideration in AL-only leagues for his speed as a utility infielder for the Yankees when he returns to the majors. Berti led the league in 2022 with 41 stolen bases with the Miami Marlins and was hitting .273 (15-for-55) in 17 games for the Yanks before his injury, but it came with only one homer, six RBI and four steals.

New York Yankees infielder Jon Berti (calf) is showing improvements and could begin a rehab assignment in a "few more weeks." The 34-year-old was transferred to the 60-day injured list and won't be eligible to come off the injured list until around the All-Star break. "Hopefully, in a few more weeks here, he'll start to be ready for a rehab assignment, but it's a pretty good injury," said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Berti is slashing .273/.322/.327 with a home run, six RBI, and six runs over 17 games in 2024. Fantasy managers outside AL-Only and deep-league formats can leave Berti on the waiver wire as he is expected to serve in a utility role once he is activated from the injured list.

New York Yankees infielder Jon Berti (calf) is expected to be out for an extended period of time according to New York Yankees Manager Aaron Boone. Berti exited Friday's game due to a lower leg injury that caused him to collapse in serious pain. He was unable to walk on it and had to be helped to the dugout. As a result, Jahmai Jones will replace Berti as the utility man on the Yankees roster and will occasionally slot into the lineup. However, with the return of DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera may overtake that utility role fairly soon, making playing time hard for Jones to find. Nonetheless, Jones and Berti should be left on all waiver wires for the foreseeable future.

New York Yankees infielder Jon Berti (leg) exited Friday's game early due to a lower leg injury. Berti collapsed in serious pain after grounding out in the ninth inning and was eventually helped off the field. This is not a good sign as this injury could be quite serious as he could not put any pressure on his left leg. If Berti were to miss any time, Jahmai Jones should be expected to take over the utility role in the Yankees lineup. Across the 17 games he appeared in this season, the 34-year-old has posted a solid .273 AVG with four stolen bases and one home run. Jones has posted a .250 AVG with one home run and should remain on all waiver wires for the foreseeable future.

New York Yankees utility player Jon Berti (groin) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Sunday. Berti was placed on the injured list two weeks ago with a left groin strain. The 34-year-old will begin a rehab assignment on Sunday and could be activated from the injured list as soon as next week. He is slashing .211/.250/.211 with an RBI and two runs scored over six games in 2024. Berti qualifies at second base, third base, shortstop, and outfield in most leagues but is mainly a fantasy option in AL-Only or deep-league formats when he returns from the injured list.

New York Yankees veteran utility player Jon Berti (groin) hits the injured list Saturday with a left groin strain. The move is retroactive to April 11. In a corresponding move, the team added infielder Kevin Smith to the roster. Berti was hitting .211 in only 19 at-bats this season while playing third base in place of the injured DJ LeMahieu (foot), who has a fracture in his foot. The good news is that LeMahieu is nearing a rehab assignment, and the Yankees will need him. Oswaldo Cabrera should continue to get regular at-bats at the hot corner. Cabrera is hitting .333 in 40 plate appearances with three home runs and eight runs scored. Berti was not getting much playing time and figures to be a utility player when he returns, as long as Cabrera keeps hitting and LeMahieu is healthy again.

The New York Yankees acquired infielder Jon Berti from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, according to a source. It's unknown what the Marlins will receive in return. The Yankees are going to be without both DJ LeMahieu (foot) and Oswald Peraza (shoulder) for the start of the 2024 regular season, so the 34-year-old Berti will give the Yanks more infield depth until those two are able to return. Berti can also play in the outfield, but most of his playing time early in the season figures to come at third base for the Bombers. Berti stole a league-high 41 bags in 102 games for the Marlins in 2022 but came back down to Earth in that category last year with only 16 swipes, but he did manage to hit .294 (114-for-388) in 133 contests. He won't supply much power but his fantasy stock in AL-only leagues is now on the rise for his speed.

Miami Marlins infielder Jon Berti was the team's projected starting shortstop for the 2024 season before they signed shortstop Tim Anderson to a one-year, $5 million deal on Thursday. Anderson now has a clear path to everyday playing time in Miami at the 6. Berti is far better suited for a utility role. The 34-year-old played a career-high 64 games at shortstop for the Marlins last year and has seen over 400 plate appearances the last two years with the Fish at second base, shortstop, third base and all three outfield positions, so he's of much more use to the team when he's filling in around the diamond. Berti hit a career-best .294 with seven home runs, 33 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 2023, a year after he had a league-high 41 steals in 102 games. With sporadic playing time, it's going to be tough for Berti to get back to being an elite threat on the basepaths.

The Miami Marlins picked up infielder Jon Berti's $3.625 million team option for the 2024 season on Monday. Berti isn't a star by any means, but the 33-year-old brings plenty of value to the Fish as a utility infielder that can play multiple positions. He hit a strong .294 (114-for-388) with career-highs in home runs (seven), RBI (33), runs scored (53) and games played (133) in his sixth year in Miami. Berti took a big step back in the stolen-base department from a year ago, though, when he had a league-high 41 stolen bases in just 102 games in 2022. He doesn't have much power (23 career home runs), but Berti's positional eligibility and speed make him an underrated fantasy asset in deeper leagues going into the 2024 season.

Miami Marlins shortstop Jon Berti is in the starting lineup for Tuesday's Game 1 of the Wild Card round versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Normally, Garrett Hampson would cover shortstop as he did a majority of the time down the stretch of the season. However, the Marlins will ride the hot hand here with Berti. Over his last 46 plate appearances, Berti is slashing .500/.609/.944 with four homers and two steals. He'll cover shortstop and bat eighth versus right-hander Zack Wheeler on Tuesday.