New York Yankees’ slugger DJ LeMahieu made it very obvious that he wants to stay in pinstripes following this season. After Sunday’s loss against the Miami Marlins, LeMahieu said during the postgame interview, “I want to stay here and I’ve said that a few times. You never know how it goes.”
DJ LeMahieu on his pending free agency: "I want to stay here and I've said that a few times. You never know how it goes." #YankeesZoomRoom pic.twitter.com/S7qYh6fKZO
— Bryan Hoch ?? (@BryanHoch) September 27, 2020
LeMahieu is signed to a 2-year/$24,000,000 contact that will expire after this season. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent for the 2021 season.
Through 49 games, LeMahieu is currently leading all of baseball for the highest batting average where he holds a .359 average. He’s also leading all of baseball in OPS+ at 175. LeMahieu is also in the run for possibly winning his second batting title, where the second closest average is held by Juan Soto at .365.
“If you watch DJ, he’s certainly quiet and business-like, all true. But he’ll show some emotion on the field,” manager Aaron Boone has said about LeMahieu. “I’ve seen a number of times where he’ll come up and he’s pumping his fist. He’s out there to rip your heart out. He plays with an edge, and I think he does love being in this environment.”
“I even said to him maybe before his last at-bat, I’m like, ‘How are you enjoying this environment?’ And he’s like, ‘Yes.’ So, good,” Boone also has said about LeMahieu wanting to stay in New York.
The Yankees will begin their playoff run on Tuesday when they face the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees finished as the fifth overall seed while the Indians are the fourth. Gerrit Cole is expected to start Game One and Shane Bieber will most likely be on the hill for the Indians.