New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu is one of the most coveted free agents of the offseason. The 2020 Silver Slugger Award winner is also a former Gold Glove winner and can play multiple infield positions. Also, he will finish in the top three in MVP voting this year after finishing fourth last season.
The three-time All-Star signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Yankees ahead of 2019. Since then, he has proven to be one of the steadiest bats in all of baseball. Despite being 32, his ability to play multiple infield positions makes him a fit on almost any team. Here, is a look at some potential landing spots for DJ LeMahieu.
New York Yankees
Obviously, the Yankees would love to have LeMahieu back and he himself has expressed that he would like to remain in the Bronx. Unfortunately, the Yankees brass is remaining quiet as to whether or not they will be spenders this offseason. The belief is that Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner wants to remain under the $210 million luxury tax threshold MLB has set for the 2021 season. However, that doesn’t mean the Yankees will sit out free agency, especially for a player as important as LeMahieu.
The Yankees have already extended the qualifying offer of $18.9 million to LeMahieu. However, he is most likely to reject that offer and test the free agent waters. It is currently unclear as to what type of deal LeMahieu is seeking. If it’s viewed as too expensive, the Yankees could look to shift shaky shortstop Gleyber Torres back to second base and pursue a cheaper shortstop to replace him. With that being said, the Yankees could agree to a LeMahieu deal knowing they will not be spending big elsewhere. Without a doubt, re-signing DJ LeMahieu will be priority number one for Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays have already made a splash this offseason when they re-signed starting pitcher Robbie Ray to a free agent deal. After spending big last season on Hyun Jin Ryu, the Jays showed they’re willing to open their wallet for the right players. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. moving to first base, the Blue Jays could easily put LeMahieu on the hot corner. With Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette and LeMahieu, the Blue Jays would have arguably one of the best infields in all of baseball.
The Blue Jays have proven that they can compete with the big boys of the AL East and made a serious playoff push in 2020. If they add LeMahieu to their young core, the Blue Jays could be perennial contenders for the next several years.
Philadelphia Phillies
When the Philadelphia Phillies signed Didi Gregorius last offseason, they shifted Jean Segura from shortstop to second base. Surprisingly, the Phillies did not extend a qualifying offer to Gregorius despite an excellent season from him. This could indicate that the team has no interest in re-signing him. If that is the case, the Phillies could shift Segura back to short leaving the door open for LeMahieu.
Despite high expectations, the Phillies underachieved this past season finishing third in the NL East. In signing LeMahieu, the Phillies would add yet another piece to an already talented lineup. Most likely, the Phillies priority will be shoring up their rocky bullpen. However, if they have a chance to snag LeMahieu, they should take it.
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twin could potentially be losing a huge bat this offseason if they don’t re-sign Nelson Cruz. Also, infielders Ehire Adrianza and Marwin Gonzalez are expected to be gone as well. Enter DJ LeMahieu. The Minnesota Twins are the two-time reigning AL Central champions, but they have had playoff disappointments.
If the Twins bring in the veteran LeMahieu, he would give them a productive and stable bat. Also, along with Josh Donaldson, he gives the Twins yet another veteran presence from the free agent market. If the Minnesota Twins want to get over the playoff hump, bringing in LeMahieu could help them do just that.
Conclusion
Without a doubt, the team that sings LeMahieu will be getting an MVP-caliber player. After hitting .364/.421/.590 with 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 27 RBI in 50 games, LeMahieu will be just behind J.T. Realmuto in terms of marquee free agents. His age could potentially scare some teams off. However, he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down and his list of awards only continues to grow.
Expect the New York Yankees to make a strong push to re-sign him, but don’t be surprised if a team comes up with a blockbuster deal to sign LeMahieu. He’s proven that he’s earned it.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:’Kcnw-h1GRaRyhzafcQgtsw’,sig:’X1MqzKhFWPHl-yyxO7ZndGdX-yok-bUHzn6MkyOhC8s=’,w:’594px’,h:’392px’,items:’1171396857′,caption: true ,tld:’com’,is360: false })});
