Getty
DJ LeMahieu at bat against the Dodgers.
Things are not going great for the reigning AL Champs. The Toronto Blue Jays have had a hot few weeks to take the lead in the AL East. The New York Yankees have struggled significantly since the end of May. The Yankees were 13-14 in June and lost five of their first eight games in July, and are starting to make changes to their team after a disappointing stretch. One of those big changes involves three-time All-Star infielder and four-time Gold Glove Award winner DJ LeMahieu.
Why the Yankees Released DJ LeMahieu
After some injury stretches and disappointing performances this season, the New York Yankees designated LeMahieu for assignment on Wednesday, July 9. At the same time, New York called up a much younger infielder in Jorbit Vivas, according to ESPN’s Jorge Castillo. On Thursday, the Yankees announced on their social media pages that the team is releasing LeMahieu.
LeMahieu had an incredible stretch for the Yankees in 2019 and 2020, but has progressively been declining. This and last season have been difficult for the former All-Star to stay healthy. Last season, LeMathieu played 67 games and accounted for a batting average of .204, an on-base percentage of .269, and a slugging percentage of .259.
The Yankees shifted LeMahieu to be a key player for the team once again after Jazz Chisholm Jr. was moved to third base. This was because the team believed during the off-season that the third base responsibilities and physicality were too much for him. In 45 games played this season, he accounted for a batting average of .266, an on-base percentage of .338, and a slugging percentage of .336. He also accounted for 34 hits, 13 runs with only two home runs, 12 RBIs, 14 walks, and 35 strikeouts in 142 plate appearances.
What’s Next for the Yankees?
After a disappointing stretch, the New York Yankees are looking into other options for the infield, including Oswald Peraza starting at third base with Vivas as the backup. There is a conversation about J.C. Escarra getting more reps at third base. This means that Chisholm will be back at second base for the Yankees unless injuries, once again, force the position shift.
For the Yankees, they let LeMahieu hit free agency despite not requesting to be released. He was in the fifth year of a six-year; $90 million deal, which would have made him a free agent in the 2027 off-season. LeMahieu would’ve been over 38 years old around the time his deal was supposed to expire. The Yankees pay the cap hit of $22 million and let LeMahieu try his luck with another team.
What’s Next for DJ LeMahieu?
For LeMahieu, he becomes a free agent for the first time since 2019. He turns 37 on Sunday and is playing in the twilight of his career. His injuries have been too frequent this season and last year. When he is playing, he isn’t fully reliable on either side of the field.
With that being said, there are still some teams that might want to see if he can provide support for a small number of games or months. These teams will need some help with support in the infield. LeMathieu also becomes a veteran motivator for the younger players. Some fans of the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers expressed their interest in their teams giving an established older veteran a shot to see if he can perform better in a new environment. It could be the break needed for LeMahieu to get out of this slump.
Michael Hanich I am a long-time sports writer currently based in Mobile, Alabama. I have been making NFL Mock Drafts since I was 13 and continue to this day.
Husband and father to a toddler and a pug. More about Michael Hanich
More Heavy on Yankees
Loading more stories
