The New York Yankees have many free agents this offseason, but DJ LeMahieu is one the Yankees will be sure to want to resign. He is the only free agent to receive a qualifying offer. The offer was $18.9 million for a one year contract. This is an offer the DJ will most assuredly pass on in favor of testing the free-agent market for his services.
The website MLBTradeRumors forecast the landing spot for the top 50 players on the open market. It has LeMahieu heading north of the border for a four-year, $68 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. My guess is that the Yankees will top that dollar amount to keep LeMahieu in pinstripes. However, nothing is difinite. If LeMahieu wants too much the Yankees will be willing to let him walk in this cash strapped offseason.
LeMahieu is probably the most watched 2nd baseman in baseball. He was the Batting title leader this season and the first player in baseball to capture the title in both leagues. The Gold Glove player will be wanted by many teams as he is more than capable to play first, second, or third base and at the same time lead a team in hitting and on base percentage.
Also of interest from the MLB Trades/Rumors forcast is that Masahiro Tanaka will land back with the New York Yankees for a three-year contract for $13 million a year. Tanaka was not offered a qualifying offer after the World Series, but if any free agent pitcher was to re-sign with the Yankees, most thought it would be Masahiro Tanaka, but at a deep discount from what he earned this year.
The same forcast shows Andrelton Simmons – Yankees. One year, $12MM. Simmons, 31, carries a reputation as the best defensive shortstop in baseball. In eight-plus seasons with the Braves and Angels, Simmons has won the Gold Glove four times. Looking at 2013-19, Simmons absolutely laps the field in defensive metrics like UZR and DRS not only among shortstops but all players, regardless of position.
Also of interest to Yankees fans, the forcast shows ex-Yankee Didi Gregorius going with Reds. James Paxton going with the White Sox for a year at $10M. J.A. Happ going with the Seattle Mariners at $6M a drastic demotion from the $17M he earned with the Yankees this year. Also of interest is the forcast shows J.T. Realmuto and Corey Kluber going to the cross-town Mets.