With the Juan Soto sweepstakes, MLB’s Sizzling Range, and the Yankees’ numerous wants dominating the dialog this offseason, one Bronx Bomber has grow to be a forgotten a part of the equation.
That might be DJ LeMahieu, the two-time batting champ who regarded like a shell of his former self whereas battling aches and pains in 2024. After having the beginning of his marketing campaign delayed by a damaged foot, LeMahieu’s season ended with a hip impingement as he watched the Yankees’ run to the World Sequence from the bench. In between the 2 accidents, the 36-year-old veteran slashed .204/.269/.259 with simply two dwelling runs, seven extra-base hits and 26 RBI over 67 video games.
After exhibiting decline for the previous few seasons, which included a foot/toe harm in 2022, 2024 was simply the worst yr of LeMahieu’s profession after he entered spring coaching as Aaron Boone’s most popular leadoff man and beginning third baseman. Expectations for LeMahieu gained’t be practically as excessive this spring.
“I’m certainly hopeful that at some point DJ LeMahieu can play a role for us,” Brian Cashman stated on the GM Conferences final month, “but I’m going to evaluate all options right now that are available to us.”
Whereas LeMahieu can play first, second and third — three positions of uncertainly for the Yankees when the offseason started — quite a bit must go mistaken for him to grow to be an everyday starter once more. Maybe he might be a flexible bench piece who can transfer across the infield, however the Yankees produce other versatile defenders and little motive to consider in LeMahieu’s bat.
Nonetheless, the workforce is hoping that good well being results in higher outcomes.
“I would never cross off a player of his caliber, even though it’s been obviously a tough couple of years,” Boone stated on the Winter Conferences.
Whereas Boone didn’t rule out the potential of LeMahieu changing into an on a regular basis participant once more, there’s a case to be made that the Yankees can use his 40-man roster spot in higher methods.
In fact, clearing that spot would include a hefty monetary value.
LeMahieu nonetheless has two years and $30 million left on the six-year, $90 million contract he signed with the Yankees earlier than the 2021 season. That’s no small amount of cash, although the workforce has proven a willingness to maneuver on from gamers owed related sums over time. Latest examples embrace Aaron Hicks, Alex Rodriguez and Jacoby Ellsbury.
With LeMahieu’s remaining cash within the Yankees’ ballpark consolation zone, may the workforce and participant half methods previous to Opening Day?
Whereas the Yankees would definitely favor to not eat one other unhealthy contract, it’s doable that LeMahieu has already performed his final official recreation for the workforce. In fact, the Yankees will need to get a have a look at him in Tampa earlier than making any pricey choices, all of the whereas hoping that LeMahieu reveals he’s nonetheless able to contributing.
“We’ll see,” Boone stated. “He got a lot healthier by the end of the season. He was working, so I’m still not going to be surprised if DJ hits on some level for us. It comes down to health and can he maintain that health to allow him to put out his at-bat, his approach, his swing. I feel really good about where he was at the very end of the season physically.”
