As reporters waited contained in the Yankees’ clubhouse following Tuesday’s win over the Mariners, a request was put in for DJ LeMahieu to talk.
As a substitute, the exceptionally quiet veteran walked previous the clubhouse doorways in road garments as he made his method residence for the night time. For a person of few phrases, it was a becoming finish to his Yankees profession.
On Wednesday, the Bombers designated LeMahieu for project regardless that they nonetheless owe him roughly $22 million by way of subsequent season. On Thursday, he was formally launched after clearing waivers, to nobody’s shock, making him a free agent.
The strikes adopted days of adverse conversations with Boone and Brian Cashman, who in the end determined that the Yankees’ roster flexibility was being compromised by the oft-injured LeMahieu’s vanished versatility.
Signed to be an “everyday utility guy” in 2019, as Cashman put it, LeMahieu initially inked a two-year, $24 million contract with the Yankees after incomes two All-Star nods, three Gold Gloves and a batting title over seven seasons with the Rockies.
The pact turned out to be a discount, as LeMahieu set career-highs with 26 residence runs and 102 RBI whereas hitting .327 as a first-year Yankee. He completed fourth in MVP voting.
Then he completed third for the award in 2020, ending the pandemic-shortened season with one other batting title. On high of that, LeMahieu manned second, third and first and hit .306 with three homers and 11 RBI within the playoffs over his first two seasons with the Yankees.
The membership rewarded him with a six-year, $90 million contract.
Cashman might have re-signed LeMahieu for fewer years and the next common annual wage, however the Yankees wished to unfold the cash out over extra seasons for luxurious tax functions. With the Yankees dismissing LeMahieu on Wednesday and nonetheless on the hook for a ton of cash, Cashman mentioned he doesn’t remorse the construction.
“Sometimes these things work out in your favor,” the overall supervisor mentioned. “Sometimes they don’t.”
LeMahieu simply hasn’t been the identical participant since signing that second deal, as he has a 99 wRC+ relationship again to the beginning of the 2021 season. That ranks Twentieth-worst amongst gamers with a minimum of 2,000 plate appearances over that span.
Jan. 16, 2021: It is a hit!
New York Each day Information
Jan. 16, 2021: DJ, Yankees make candy music on 6-year deal price $90 million, giving Bomber their key slugger and roster flexibility. DJ LeMahieu mentioned he wished to stick with Yankees, and on Friday he will get his huge payday with big deal that can be workforce pleasant.
Final yr, LeMahieu endured the worst season of his profession, posting a 53 wRC+. He had a mark of 95 this season and was truly producing a bit when the Yankees reduce ties, however his lack of mobility at second and desire to avoid third, the place Jazz Chisholm Jr. had struggled defensively, relegated him to a bench spot and no clear lane for an outlined position.
LeMahieu’s decline has coincided with quite a few accidents. He hasn’t performed in a single playoff recreation since signing his second cope with the Yankees.
In 2021, LeMahieu missed the postseason with a proper sports activities hernia and underwent core muscle restore surgical procedure within the offseason. In 2022, he suffered a damaged sesamoid bone in his proper huge toe, which led to ligament injury in his second toe, an terrible second half, one other postseason absence and a subpar 2023 marketing campaign. In 2024, he broke his proper foot with a foul ball in spring coaching and ended the season with a hip impingement.
Throughout camp this yr, LeMahieu mentioned that he had “lost a lot of sleep” over on a regular basis he’s missed, however he was desperate to show doubters flawed with a clear invoice of well being. Then he sustained a calf pressure in his first spring coaching recreation, and he later acquired a cortisone shot for his hip whereas rehabbing.
“It’s tough to be a guy that the team can’t rely on at times,” LeMahieu mentioned in February. “I always take pride in that, so to not be able to do that, it’s definitely frustrating. But at the same time, I haven’t lost my passion for helping this team and my passion for this team. So that keeps me going.”
Whereas LeMahieu’s ardour remained, his award-winning bat didn’t. Neither did his defensive prowess and flexibility.
Over the winter, the four-time Gold Glover advised the Yankees that he felt most snug at second base. Nonetheless, they have been “hopeful” that he may very well be an choice at third base. That modified after the calf harm.
Whereas Boone mentioned that LeMahieu was prepared to work to make third base a risk once more earlier than his launch, the place had develop into too bodily “demanding” for him.
“I know he strongly felt that the best way for him moving forward was to try to solely stay on the right side of the infield,” Cashman mentioned, however second had additionally develop into an excessive amount of, as LeMahieu displayed diminished vary over 45 video games.
Cashman instructed that LeMahieu’s accidents, notably the hip points, are what steered him away from the new nook.
Unneeded at first, the Yankees despatched LeMahieu packing, although not with out some appreciation for the nice instances.
With a as soon as prolific bat, a willingness to play wherever in his prime, and a reserved, lead by instance demeanor, Boone known as LeMahieu “as widely respected a player as we’ve had.”
“He’s earned that with just his professionalism, his toughness, his play on the field, just kind of the quiet way he goes about things,” Boone mentioned. “There’s a lot of guys that have an immense amount of respect for DJ.”
Cashman agreed, however that wasn’t going to cease years of aches and pains from catching as much as an growing older LeMahieu.
“He’s a great player, a great person,” Cashman mentioned. “He’s performed nice issues right here. Clearly, the previous couple of years haven’t been what he or we had hoped for, however that’s additionally a part of the sport.
“Those injuries can change the dynamic and the equation altogether.”
