It has been a painfully slow off-season for New York Yankees fans, as general manager Brian Cashman inches his way toward a DJ LeMahieu contract extension. However, preparing for the worst is something that is necessary, as DJ has told his representatives to continue exploring alternative options as Cashman plays the long game.
Both the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers have been in contact with his representatives, but LeMahieu still wants to stay in pinstripes, which might be playing a significant part in the stretching of this negotiation period.
LeMahieu has pretty solid grounds to stand on, as well, after winning the batting title in 2020 with a .364 average. After two consecutive fantastic seasons, DJ deserves a big contract, but at 32 years old, teams are skeptical about dishing out the greenery.
Nonetheless, Cashman is preparing for a backup plan, and his name is Marcell Ozuna. According to a well-known Dominican republic reporter, the Yankees and Dodgers have both inquired about Ozuna, who previously featured with the Atlanta Braves in 2020.
Here’s a report saying the Dodgers are negotiating with Marcell Ozuna
This comes from one of the biggest sports reporters in the Dominican Republic, where Ozuna is from https://t.co/vBP06sqtPr
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) January 13, 2021
What would Marcell Ozuna offer the New York Yankees?
Ozuna is a fantastic talent who has spent time with Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, and Braves over the past eight years. In 2020, he posted a fantastic .338 average with 18 homers and 56 RBIs. In fact, he actually fits the bill quite well for the Yankees, who tend to rely on sluggers.
Back in 2017, Ozuna had a career-high 37 long balls, and with the Yankees’ ability to maximize power, he could break another personal record if required. He is only 30 years old, so he’s two years younger than LeMahieu. However, he does play in the outfield, which would pose a potential issue for players like Clint Frazier. He also featured in the designated hitter position for 39 games, where Giancarlo Stanton currently makes a living.
These rumors can’t be confirmed from alternative sources, but it is quite interesting the Yankees would consider Ozuna as a potential target. As a primary DH hitter, they already have Stanton, and Clint Frazier is expected to take a more prominent role in 2021.
Nonetheless, it is nice to see a report regarding the Yankees’ interest in a big free agent since they’ve been relatively quiet over the past few months.