The New York Yankees Designate DJ LeMahieu for Assignment
The New York Yankees have made the significant decision to designate DJ LeMahieu, a two-time batting champion, for assignment, effectively ending his seven-year journey with the team. This move comes as the Yankees grapple with roster adjustments amid their ongoing struggles this season. LeMahieu is still owed a hefty $22 million through 2024.
Management’s Perspective
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman remarked on the difficult nature of such choices, emphasizing the importance of optimizing the roster for manager Aaron Boone‘s strategic needs. Boone elaborated on the decision, citing ongoing discussions about the team’s positioning and its impact on LeMahieu, who has earned a reputation as a respected veteran within the locker room.
“It’s been a tough couple of days with some hard conversations,”
Boone expressed, noting the considerable contributions LeMahieu has made to the franchise throughout his tenure. This change follows Boone’s earlier announcement that Jazz Chisholm Jr. would return to playing second base daily, thereby relegating LeMahieu to a bench role. Boone acknowledged that LeMahieu did not handle the situation well and expressed that it had been a challenging period for both the player and the coaching staff.
LeMahieu’s Performance and Challenges
LeMahieu, soon turning 37, has had a challenging season, achieving a batting average of .266 with a .674 OPS over 45 games. He started the year on the injured list with a calf strain but has shown improvement since June, hitting .310 for the Yankees when given opportunities. However, Cashman ultimately assessed that LeMahieu’s offensive performance was insufficient to balance out his defensive shortcomings, prompting the tough decision.
The Yankees initially secured LeMahieu with a six-year, $90 million contract following his stellar performance in the pandemic-impacted 2020 season, which saw him hit .364 and clinch the batting title—the first in history for a player in both leagues. His role was meant to be as a versatile utility player; over the last season, he made the bulk of his starts at third base. However, a hip injury last September led him to step away from that position, with Cashman reporting that it had severely impacted LeMahieu’s ability to perform there competently.
Impact on the Team’s Roster
Spring training further solidified this limitation when LeMahieu suffered a calf strain, which restricted him to second base duties throughout his recovery, marking a significant shift in the lineup dynamics. As Chisholm returned from injury and resumed second base where he feels most useful, LeMahieu could not find a place in the active roster given the competition at first base and designated hitter positions from stars like Giancarlo Stanton and former MVPs Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger.
Consequently, Cashman felt that LeMahieu’s presence created a redundancy that detracted from Boone’s in-game flexibility. In a related roster move, the Yankees have promoted infielder Jorbit Vivas from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to fill the gap left by LeMahieu. Cashman commented on LeMahieu’s commitment to the team, stating:
“He’s got a lot of pride. He wants to contribute and loves this organization, but he recognized that playing time had drastically shifted, making his continuation unsustainable. This decision, while difficult, seems essential for the team moving forward.”
