The New York Yankees have a very difficult decision to make after the 2020 campaign, and that is whether to resign DJ LeMahieu or not. It is important to note that LeMahieu is extremely open to staying in the Bronx, which he made clear during spring training.
LeMahieu had a fantastic 2019, winning a silver slugger award and slashing .327/.375/.518 with 102 RBIs and 26 homers. He served as the Yankees’ leadoff hitter and acted as a catalyst on offense and defense. He earned an All-Star selection and finished fourth in MVP voting, proving his worth and why general manager Brian Cashman should be working on an extension immediately.
Last year was arguably his best season-to-date, and the consistency he has displayed throughout his career proves that the Yankees should jump quickly on contract negotiations to keep LeMahieu in pinstripes for the foreseeable future. His ability to play at every position in the infield is an added bonus that helped supplement injuries in 2019.
While not considered a slugger, he showed his power off with 26 home runs, but his contact benefits the actual sluggers around him. Players like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez, and Luke Voit were able to enjoy LeMahieu on base frequently, giving the Yankees ample run support.
Is there any reason for the New York Yankees not to extend LeMahieu?
The only justifiable reason to delay an extension would be to see how the LeMahieu performs in 2020, as one year of elite production can sometimes mask inconsistencies down the road.
While I don’t think this will occur, rushing to conclusions might bite the Yankees in the butt. Alternatively, the Yankees could look to trade DJ and maximize his value on a one year deal in a shortened season. The likelihood of this happening is extremely low, and the right move is to extend him before he hits the open market. The primary issue is the allocated money already on the roster and the big contracts that are pending in the near future. Cashman still has to deal with Judge and his megadeal, and several starting pitchers will hit the market, including Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, and J.A. Happ.
With all of these players entering the FA portal, LeMahieu’s extension will have to wait a little while. Nonetheless, I think he will earn the right to stick in New York for the next few years.