Prepare to be disappointed New York Yankees fans, as star infielder DJ LeMahieu will begin engaging with other teams as general manager Brian Cashman and Co. styles in negotiations.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal stated that LeMahieu will “start engaging with other teams.†ESPN’s Jeff Passan reaffirmed that LeMahieu will “strongly consider†other offers.
It has already been reported at the Toronto Blue Jays are heavily interested in LeMahieu and his elite services. It is believed that the Yankees and the second baseman are $25 million away from finding a middle ground. He wants five years, $100 million, and the Yankees want to give him $25 million per season over four years. The money adds up, and DJ can easily cash in elsewhere after his performance the past two years.
Most recently, DJ secured the batting title in 2020, hitting .364 with 10 homers and 27 RBIs. He has been phenomenal for the Yankees, and the rest of the MLB has enjoyed his performance, wishing they could acquire him and implement his strengths.
Nonetheless, the Yankees are skeptical about extending him on a deal this long, considering they’re already on the hook for players like Giancarlo Stanton and Gerrit Cole. They’ve made significant mistakes before in the past when it comes to investing in a player like this, but DJ is one of the safer ones. He can supplement multiple positions in the infield and is one of the best hitters the team has ever had.
When Cashman puts a price-point on a player’s head, he’s usually right about their value. In this case, I think it is more ownership holding him back from spending than anything else.
Either way, you look at it, losing DJ would be a massive blow to their infield and batting order, but if they do lose out, expect the Yankees to spend that money elsewhere, maybe on starting pitching or finding a supplement. There’s always a possibility they move Gleyber Torres back to second base and actually fulfill a trade for Francisco Lindor.