The Yankees pulled the plug on The Machine, designating DJ LeMahieu for task on Wednesday.
The 2-time batting champ, nonetheless owed about $22 million by subsequent season, was then launched on Thursday. Later within the day, Yankees captain Aaron Decide addressed the departure.
“He’s going to be missed,” Decide, a teammate of LeMahieu’s since 2019, stated throughout a scrum contained in the Yankees’ clubhouse.
LeMahieu ended up happening the injured record with a proper hip impingement when Domínguez was promoted final yr.
“I’ve got nothing for you.”
Whereas Decide downplayed his affect, he does have a detailed relationship with Hal Steinbrenner, because the proprietor has sought enter from the two-time MVP through the years. Brian Cashman, in the meantime, didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Thursday.
On Wednesday, the overall supervisor was requested if he thought of slicing LeMahieu this previous offseason. He stated that there was “no pressure point” to take action on the time and that the Yankees had been “hopeful” that the 36-year-old could possibly be an choice at third base regardless of years of declining offensive manufacturing.
Nonetheless, the new nook turned too bodily difficult for LeMahieu, a degree he conveyed to the membership over the winter. When requested how so, Cashman talked about LeMahieu’s hip, which additionally obtained a cortisone shot earlier than he returned from a calf pressure this season.
LeMahieu suffered the calf pressure whereas enjoying third in his first spring coaching recreation this yr. He has additionally battled a number of foot/toe accidents lately, and he underwent surgical procedure for a sports activities hernia in 2021.
Throughout his scrum, Decide highlighted LeMahieu’s willingness to play any place throughout his prime, in addition to his dedication to play by ache.
“He did anything that the team asked him,” Decide stated. “He confirmed up each single day able to play. I do know he battled by some accidents. I even return to 2019. He had a groin damage happening early within the yr, and he form of advised the workforce like, ‘I’m not happening the IL. I gotta be on the market. Even when it’s 60 p.c, I’m going to battle by it and play.’ So simply seeing that kind of dedication to the workforce simply motivates me to go on the market and attempt to play every single day as a lot as I can.
“He hated missing games. He hated not being there for us.”
Decide praised LeMahieu’s lead-by-example fashion and the affect he had on youthful gamers like Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells. A quiet participant, LeMahieu earned respect within the Yankees’ clubhouse for his laser-sharp concentrate on his craft.
“Baseball is DJ’s life. That’s all he talked about. That’s all he wanted to talk about. That’s all he knew,” Decide stated. “He’s a gamer.”
Nonetheless, LeMahieu has a 99 wRC+ since 2021, and he posted a mark of 53 final season.
LeMahieu had a 95 wRC+ this season, however he was largely hitting singles whereas unable to vary at second base. With Jazz Chisholm Jr. struggling defensively at third, the Yankees moved him again to second and declared LeMahieu a bench choice on Tuesday.
Now a Yankees staple since 2019 is a free agent with an unsure future.
“I’m just wishing him the best,” Decide stated of LeMahieu. “He’s meant loads to this workforce and loads to us on this clubhouse, the fanbase, so it’s powerful.
“It’s going to be different, but we gotta keep moving forward.”
