Yankees: Aaron Boone weighs in on DJ LeMahieu’s free agency

New York Yankees‘ second baseman in 2019 and 2020 DJ LeMahieu remains unsigned. Not only he was the batting champion in the shortened 2020 campaign, with a .364 average, but he also was the Bombers’ fWAR leader in both years. His offensive and defensive excellence in the position is unparalleled.

Unsurprisingly, the New York Yankees have made bringing LeMahieu back a priority. The problem is that they have some competition. The New York Mets have a glaring hole at second base following Robinson Cano’s suspension, and they have money to spend and an interest in LeMahieu. The Toronto Blue Jays and the Washington Nationals are reportedly in, as well.

The Yankees may need to pony up if they want their star back. According to Jack Curry of the YES Network, LeMahieu is seeking a five-year, $100-million deal after playing remarkably well on his two-year, $24-million contract with the Bombers.

“Other teams are definitely interested in DJ LeMahieu,” Curry said Monday night on Yankees Hot Stove. “Who wouldn’t be interested in DJ LeMahieu? He remains (the Yankees’) No. 1 priority. Discussions are ongoing. The Yankees have had discussions with his camp. They have told him how much they want him back. His agent has talked about a five-year, $100-million deal. How deep are the Yankees willing to dive into those financial waters?

“Remember, 2020 was a different season for every Major League team. You’re going to hear about this all offseason, but it is a reality. Teams lost a lot of money. That’s why this offseason is going to move so much slower. They’re trying to figure out how to make the financials work.”

LeMahieu was a true star for the Yankees

LeMahieu finished third in the MVP voting this season and fourth in 2019. He has been consistently great. Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone certainly understands why he’s so on-demand.

“First of all, amazing year,” Boone said on YES. “Top three in the MVP race. Another batting title, winning one in the National League, as well. So congratulations on what was another amazing season for DJ. But I think he knows how I feel about him. He certainly knows how our organization feels about him. He certainly understands how New York feels about him and our fanbase feels about him. So, we’ll see.

“I’ve had some contact with him. I just text messaged with him a little bit checking in. I don’t have to say how great it would be to have him back. He’s earned the right to be in a position to be a free agent as one of the best players in the sport. He’s earned that and should take advantage of that.”

Analyst John Flaherty’s thinks DJLM will stay when all is said and done.

“The bottom line is DJ LeMahieu put himself in a great position as one of the top free agents out on the market this season and he’s going to gain a lot of interest,” Flaherty said on Hot Stove. “With all the finances being down from the pandemic, you wonder who can still be involved. We know the Yankees are going to be a big player.

“But I think about it from DJ’s standpoint. He’s a 32-year-old player. He’s probably coming down to this will be his last big contract and where does he want to spend the next three, four, maybe five years? In New York as a Yankee — and he admitted he loved the two years — he performed well under the bright lights and he’s going to have a chance to win a championship every year.

“It just sounds like a marriage has to happen between these two sides, the Yankees and DJ, because it’s been so productive for two years.”