The value New York Yankees utility man DJ LeMahieu brings to the roster is beyond comprehension. His offerings at first and second base make him a staple in the infield. Some might say he’s indispensable, but the Yankees are facing a potential problem. Can they afford to pay LeMahieu and Aaron Judge after signing Gerrit Cole to a nine-year, $324 million deal?
In 2019, LeMahieu was the Yankees’ most valuable player by a large margin, and he was only earning $12 million. For a player of his magnitude, $12 million is a steal — Brett Gardner is making about the same in 2020. He slashed an impressive .327/.375/.518, smashing a career-high 26 homers and recorded 102 RBIs.
It’s possible his stellar campaign might be an anomaly since he reached career-highs in multiple categories. Expecting hi to replicate those numbers could be problematic, but the final year of his deal should prove his worth.
Why the New York Yankees should take the calculated risk and extend LeMahieu:
During the 2019 postseason, DJ went 15-for-40, earning a .325 BA with three homers. His clutchness was unprecedented and proved his worth in the Bronx. During a year plagued by injuries, LeMahieu was a constant, playing most of the season and featuring at different positions.
The infield will consist of Luke Voit at first, LeMahieu at second, Gleyber Torres at shortstop, and Gio Urshela at third. This unit is offensively fantastic but could struggle defensively. Torres is a question mark at short, especially after struggling immensely this spring training, and Voit is coming off a serious sports hernia injury. The Yanks might need DJ more than ever in 2020, slotting him in to supplement injuries or deficiencies from players.
However, that’s only more reason to extend him for at least two more years. His ability to rake in Yankee Stadium was critical, considering his .229 road-average while playing for the Colorado Rockies in 2018. The general concern was that the Rockies’ stadium benefited his style of hitting, but the reality is far different.