Everyone simply assumes the New York Yankees will retain star infielder DJ LeMahieu, but the reality is, other teams will be calling for his services and may outbid Hal Steinbrenner and ownership.
There are several teams that could bid on his services, and the Yankees undoubtedly lead the race in his retention. However, the Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Arizona Cardinals have all been mentioned as possible destinations.
It is possible that LeMahieu earns somewhere in the $20-23 million range per season, especially coming off two stellar campaigns with the Yankees. This past season, he finished with a .364 batting average, including 10 homers and 27 RBIs. He had a 1.011 OPS, a career-high over 10 seasons.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com believes the Steve Cohen-led Mets could be diving into the deep end of free agency this upcoming offseason.
What’s more fun than an old-fashioned bidding war between crosstown rivals? The perception is that once Steve Cohen is approved as the new owner, the Mets will jump into the free-agent frenzy with both feet. The fit isn’t clear for LeMahieu, but if the designated hitter returns to the National League next season, that could open second base for the Mets, who currently have Robinson Canó under contract for three more years.
The Mets are preparing to take their roster to the next level, with Steve Cohen representing a major upgrade in ownership and has the financial flexibility to spend freely. Getting into a bidding war for LeMahieu is not exactly how the Yankees want to carry out his negotiations this off-season, considering they lost immense income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Mets don’t necessarily have an open spot for LeMahieu, as they still have Robinson Cano under contract, but the best part about DJ is his ability to play multiple positions. He is a true Swiss Army knife in the infield, having won three Gold Gloves in the past and the batting title this season.
Following the end of the World Series, it will be interesting to see how teams approach him in free agency and how much money he can earn per season.