While the Yankees continue to be the team most prominently linked to DJ LeMahieu, other clubs continue to linger as alternate possibilities for the free agent infielder. The includes the reigning World Series champions, as David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports said earlier this week during an MLB Network appearance that the Dodgers “are definitely in talks with LeMahieu.”
According to various reports, LeMahieu and the Yankees are separated by one year and over $25MM in contract talks — enough of a gap that it certainly presents opportunity for other big-spending teams to get involved. The Blue Jays have been considered to be the Yankees’ chief rivals to sign LeMahieu, with the Mets and Astros also involved at various points this offseason, but the Dodgers could suddenly loom as potential favorites if they made a full-on push to land the All-Star.
Since Los Angeles already has over $197MM on the books in projected 2021 payroll, signing LeMahieu would surely put the Dodgers over the $210MM luxury tax threshold. The club could look to make some trades elsewhere to free up money and avoid a tax payment, or the Dodgers could simply take a fairly minimal one-year hit (a 20% charge on every dollar spent between $210MM-$230MM) in order to further reinforce the lineup for another title run with the addition of LeMahieu’s bat. With Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Corey Seager, Chris Taylor, and Joe Kelly all potentially set for free agency in the 2021-22 offseason, L.A. will suddenly have lot of payroll space available if it wishes to duck back under the tax threshold next winter.
The Dodgers are obviously very familiar with LeMahieu from his days as the Rockies’ regular second baseman, though he has taken his game to an MVP-caliber over two seasons with the Yankees. LeMahieu’s ability to also play third base and first base make him a good fit for a Los Angeles team that prizes multi-positional players, and it could make him a perfect (and more versatile) replacement for another free agent in Justin Turner.
It has been a pretty quiet offseason overall for the Dodgers, but the club isn’t thought to be under any of the financial restraints that are seemingly holding back a lot of teams this winter. With this kind of payroll flexibility available, the Dodgers could be content to wait out the market, both because they’re already loaded with talent and because players like LeMahieu in search of big paydays have a relatively short list of teams that can meet their asking price.
It’s worth noting that LeMahieu rejected the Yankees’ qualifying offer, and Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman usually stays away from free agents that come attached to draft pick compensation. However, AJ Pollock represents one such external QO signing during Friedman’s tenure in Los Angeles, as the Dodgers surrendered what ended up being the 34th overall pick in the 2019 draft when they signed Pollock to a four-year deal in January 2019.
Dodgers seem like the most potential in being a threat to signing DJ Lemahieu. Especially with Turner a FA, Taylor a FA and Seager a FA after 2021. DJ would basically be a replacement for one of those three. Yankees better not mess this up.
I believe Taylor isn’t a FA until after this season. I’d love it if we got DJ. I mean really who wouldn’t? But is he a luxury? Yes.
Considering LeMahieu has played more than 90% of his innings at 2B, he wouldn’t really be a replacement for any of these three. He’d be replacing Hernandez.
I still believe alleged interest from other clubs is nothing more than his agent looking for leverage to finalize a deal with the Yankees. Until the ink dries, I still believe he’s going nowhere else but back to the Bronx. That said this reminds me of something from over 40 years ago. No one expected Luis Tiant to leave the Red Sox when he signed with NY. DJLM has only been with the Yankees a short time but has there been another player who became so loved in such a short period of time?
I think it speaks to the Yanks’ desperation for staying good . For all their talk about Judge, Sanchez, and Torres, they only became real condensers again thanks to a late free agent signing of a solid but somewhat light hitting 2bman 2 years ago. BVW signed a similar player for almost the same price at the same time named Jed Lowrie who was coming off an allstar season. The Yanks lucked out and BVW is looking for a a new career.
If I’m the Yanks, I’d sign Didi and Bauer and a Colome.
Maybe it’s leverage from the Dodgers to get Turner’s camp to move to resign if JT’s loving LA. Where is the article on Justin Turner’s market of teams to sign with?
Dewey, I don’t think the Yankees go over the $210, which means that they have $30 to spend. I would rather spend that on Didi and Tanaka and maybe an RP, then blow almost all of it on DJL. They have hitting to spare, they need pitching…
Toronto
I think a lot of people have assumed the 2B gig would go to Lux.
But I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays in a bench role until he proves he can handle MLB pitching.
Not much can be assumed about Lux. He’s stuck in the rock and hard place of supposedly having nothing left to prove in the minors and looking totally lost in the majors. No way the Dodgers pencil him in as the starting 2B in 2021. He just isn’t ready. In fact if the Dodgers do sign LeMahieu I’d take it as a sign of Lux being on the move.
@BlueSkies_LA One reason the Dodgers have interest is because of his ability to play a quality third base or first base.
Yes the ability but his real defensive value is 2B, a position at which the Dodgers just happen to have a vacancy. He is definitely not a replacement for Turner.
Chris will be a free agent in 2022. I still feel like JT will be back regardless whether DJ ends up signing in LA.
Same here. I just can’t see JT leaving and even if they sign DJ the keystone is wide open for the taking. Turner can still be signed to play 3rd or if it works out he would be perfect for DH even though I still think he is solid at 3rd.
Cashman is going to let DJLM get picked off by the Dodgers or Blue Jays. If that happens Cashman might as well resign.
Enter Theo Epstein
That would be really interesting
Is letting him walk that big a deal?. Move Torres back to second, nab Simmons or Gregorius on a one-year deal, then uses the “LeMahieu” money next year when Baez, Correra, Lindor, Seager and Story are all free agents?
Why would Simmons or Gregorius sign a one year deal and reenter the free agency market with all those other shortstops? I don’t see either player signing a one year deal.
I agree to let him walk. They have hitting, they need pitching. Didi and Simmons could sign for a two year deal…
They might not have a choice but accept a one year deal in this climate.
I too agree to let DJ walk. Another bat might get you to the WS but it take ARMS to win the World Series. Yankees need to spend all their available resources on pitching.
I don’t know. Letting Turner walk? Really?
Basically getting a younger version for the same cost, turner could fall off production wise any day. I’m sure this is just for turner to lower his asking price but who knows
A younger version of Turner who plays very little 3B? I guess nobody is noticing the vacancy at 2B, the position LeMahieu won three Gold Gloves playing.
That’s what I’m saying. 2B has been wide open for a few years now. That would definitely be DJ’s primary position even though he would move around the diamond.
Same cost??? Tuner has no shot at costing the same as DJ.
Lol. You think DJ is gonna sign for turners last deal? Dude garnered mvp votes iirc.
You have to remember, that was in Bronx little league stadium.
DJLM > Turner.
Dodgers > Yanks.
DJLM knows the NL West quite well.
No reason he wouldn’t sign with the Dodgers if they are willing to pay his salary. Dodgers also have a greater chance of a title than the Yankees do with DJLM aboard.
I’m a Yankees fan and I sadly agree with you.
It’s cool, man. I’m a Giants fan, so I say it with a heavy heart.
He will forevermore be known as a super-spreader
@Brewer88, Only if you don’t acknowledge the fact that none of the Dodgers or their family members caught it from him, and wholly refuse to blame whatever MLB or hotel staffer it was that contaminated the bubble
If the Yankees don’t sign dj, it signals the start of the el cheapo era in NYY history.
Yankees will be losing more ticket revenue than any other team because of Covid so it’s only natural they can’t spend like a drunken sailor right now.
Fever, how do yo know the Yankees have list the most? Because they say do? Where’s the proof? Even if they did, haven’t they also had amongst the highest revenue consistently year to year? The real issue to be is their present tax situation which unless a new CBA changes things, will have to be reset and if not in 2021, when? Otherwise the cost will increase more and more. That said, I expect DJLM to remain in the Brody and if need be, the team finds other ways to sneak back under in either 21 or more likely 22. With the moves Tampa has made, 21 might be the Yankees best chances of winning a WS in the near future.
I hate not having the ability to correct spelling!
1. list = lost
2. be = me
3. Brody = Bronx
Pretty sure NYY have the highest ticket prices and draw at or near the top of the league in attendance. LA is right there too likely with “lost revenue” from tickets. But it’s not hard to see them losing more money from tickets than a team that draws 2M a year
It’s annoying that we cannot correct our spelling on comments.
I’m glad you asked me that question. There are just two teams whose average ticket price is way higher than everyone else, the Red Sox and the Yankees. But Yankee Stadium holds 44% more than Fenway and the Yankees average attendance is 6K more per game.. Doing the math, whatever percentage of seats are allowed to be sold …. Yankees lose the most money. Or you can take their usual $300M ticket revenue and slice let’s say half if seating capacity is limited to 50%.
You can correct anything within 5 minutes, most places don’t let you edit at all. I think the best approach is to review before you post, not after.
Oh but you do, it’s called proof read what you wrote before hitting that submit/save button.
@DaveNHL- The app sucks; the website is better in that it allows for edits. (Within a 5 minute window.) The app needs a lot of updates, the most necessary being a “block” button to erase the trolls from my reading enjoyment.
You do have the ability to correct spelling… Just don’t hit ‘publish’ until you’ve reviewed it. You’re welcome.
The Yankees also have a massive TV deal so I don’t think they are going to be in the poor house anytime soon.
Yankees have been around $300M in ticket revenue, a 50% capacity for 2021 would cause them to lose $150M.
That already started. They have just won enough to cover it up. They can’t make stupid mistakes like Stanton anymore. The best thing that could happen to them would be to lose out on DJ. They need pitching. I hope they do sign him.
Lux? Unless they plan on DJL playing 3B or Lux for a trade.
Lux’s natural position is 3B, so he could be moved there if Dodgers sign DJL.
Lux to Colorado as part of a deal for Arenado?
Only if Colorado ponies up $50-60M.
God no. There isn’t a ship in the world that wouldn’t sink with Arenado’s contract on board. COL is stuck with it for the duration.
No, Lux’s natural position is SS.
Lux was moved to 2nd because of his below average arm at SS. 3rd is his least natural position in which he has played 0 games in his minor league career.
He has a strong arm he just is a bit wild.
While I really like JT, I would take DJLM any day of the week. A Top 10 hitter who can play multiple positions, hits well against the shift along with a batting title in each league – (Sorry JT) I would choose to go that route instead. It’s just business, nothing personal. DJ is just a better overall player.
Agreed, a 3/4 year deal would be an excellent pick up over 2/3 for justin turner (unless it takes 10 million per year) then they could platoon lux and Rios at 3rd to see what they have
DJ Lemahieu really benefits from playing in Yankee Stadium. His numbers would decline if he went to LA. Plus, Yankees fans would revolt if they let him go. I think he will stay in New York.
Last 2 years his home and away splits are identical. Nice try though
2019
Home 338/392/585/977
Away 318/350/460/820
A 150+ point difference in OPS in 2019 and a 500+ point difference in OPS in 2020 is far from “identical”.
The splits you are implying are as if he is Arenado type drop off, 50 points is much if any difference but by all means. Homeruns batting average etc are almost the same….
DJLM’s home/away splits the last two seasons
Home:
2019: .338/.392/.585, 157 wRC+, .406 wOBA, .997 OPS
2020: .448/.505/.813, 256 wRC+, .545 wOBA, 1.317 OPS
Away
2019: .318/.359/.459, 116 wRC+, .346 wOBA, .818 OPS
2020: .283/.339/.374, 98 wRC+, ,315 wOBA, .713 OPS
I get 2020 was a small sample size, but that’s a 41% difference in wRC+ in 2019. In 2019, that would be the difference between Xander Bogarets and Andrew Benintendi offensively.
Home runs and batting average?
1999 called. It wants its archaic measurements back.
I can’t tell if you’re kidding. His wRC+ is a very advanced metric and is the difference between being 10% Better than an average hitter to 50%. These splits are a 7-10, they’re gigante.
Quit lying.
In 2019 he had a .977 OPS at home and a .818 OPS away. In 2020, he had a 1.265 OPS at home and a .759 OPS away.
Do your research before you reply with a snappy comment.
Where is the lie? That’s not similar to Todd Helton or Nolan arenado type of splits that depicts a completely different players. 60 game sample size doesn’t paint the full picture but by all means use that like you use your arguments as to why the padres will be a contender despite seasons outside of last year not supporting your argument
My argument against Lemahieu signing with the Dodgers is that he would lose a lot of power moving out of Yankee Stadium. If you look at his numbers the past two years, his power output has increased dramatically. However, If you look at his away numbers, you will see that he is still the same hitter he was with Colorado – a good player who can hit for a high average, but who won’t hit many home runs. He is most valuable to the Yankees, which is why I think he stays in New York.
I didn’t even mention the Padres once on this thread, so I don’t see why you feel the need to bring them up.
Reasons for signing with the Dodgers: 1. $$$ 2. Better chance of winning it all with a better pitching staff. 3. Better school system ( jk, formally a reason for signing with Colorado)
Cause sd blew their farm system to
Finish 2nd
People said the same thing about Mookie moving out of Fenway and he turned out alright. The Dodgers wouldn’t need nor expect him to hit 30 home runs.
LA school system sucks.
Tat, I’m not sure you know the meaning of the word “identical”.
Found the post of the day here!
Very embarrassing Tats but at least your giving everyone a heads up for the future from what to expect from you
Every hitter benefits from hitting in Yankee stadium. It doesn’t mean they aren’t damn valuable in a less hitter friendly stadium as well.
Agreed. DJ Lemahieu is a good player. However, most of his uptick in value comes from his increased power production since signing with New York. If he leaves, he will be a lot less valuable than he’s been over the past two years.
I’d like to see a graph of how many of his home runs would’ve been routine outs in LA.
He’s a good hitter, no doubt, but that stadium is a huge help.
It’s a huge help to most players.
Wrong, not every hitter benefits equally from hitting in Yankee Stadium. LHB who are pull hitters and RHB who are opposite field hitters both benefit a lot more than others, it’s the Swisher Effect for DJ.
Oh oh the Dodgers always have a brinks truck backing up.
Yeah, but they’ve also drafted well and made great trades, building up a great pipeline of talent. Truly, they don’t even need DJLM and might win again this year regardless. Bringing him in just makes them an even bigger powerhouse.
Over/Under: How long after D.J goes to L.A does Lindor get traded to NYY? 24 hours?
Time for teams to announce trade: over.
Time for reports to leak of the trade: under. I bet 12 hours.
We need two pitchers before we think about trading for a hitter. That’s why signing DJ Lemahieu is mandatory. Our prospects should be for Kyle Hendricks/Luis Castillo before a hitter.
Hence the overreaction and immediately trading for Lindor
Don’t think so, unless they have a good feeling from Hal, that they either can offer a long term contract, or they will have the money in 2021 to sign him long term….2021 will produce lots of stellar SS opportunities as far as free agents and with Torres, albeit him not being on the level of Lindor, or even DD, they will keep him at short, sign somebody to play 2nd, and wait for either teams to sell off free agent SS to be in July, or wait until the off season to sign the guy of their choice.
Looking at the numbers, DJ and Turner seemed to have the same career path. Pretty mediocre to bad before 30 and elite after 30. Dodgers could honestly be replacing Justin Turner with another Justin Turner that is three years younger.
Exactly
DJ won a batting title in his 20s, JT won a bonus night at the Hampton in from all of the minor league teams he played for.
They’re both quite good now, but this is a bad take.
It’s quite fascinating how good JT got after his age 30 season, and no one talks about it.
It’s almost as if he decided to do something…different.
Oh yes, launch angle!
Juice
He completely retooled his swing to add the leg kick and become more of a fly ball hitter. It was talked about plenty at the time. Not much now because it’s old news.
The same ones Marlon Byrd used – launch angles…
If the Mets fail on getting Springer, than they should jump on DJ, he could play 2b and move McNeil to 3b or let DJ play 3b ? And sign Bradley Jr for CF and move Nimmo to LF. Forget about Bauer and his asking price and make a trade with Cleveland for Carrasco (Rosario,Mauricio and Szapucki).
That’s way too much for a pitcher with a very serious health problem. I would have done that deal for Luis Castillo. SS Mauricio is the Mets’ best prospect!
If the Dodgers did sign DJ, I would expect his power numbers to drop some from playing in Yankee stadium. The rest of his numbers should stay much the same. But would the Dodgers outbid the Yankees in years? I. ‘m not sure about that.
Could be a ploy by his agent for the Yankees to add the extra year he wants.
Good points.
He pretty much transitions to a .300 hitter against all comers with 15-20 HRs a year. Not bad, but not 100 million dollars good. The Dodgers only got about $20mil left in tax threshold window before going over. I don’t see this deal happening as presented.
Plus, the Dodgers have some young talent that might be able to get the job done. They are really high on Edwin Rios and Zach McKinstry. They may just sit tight if they can’t come to an amicable agreement with Justin Turner.
Do the Dodgers actually want to resign Turner, or is there a sense that they want to turn the page and get younger at 3B?
@Scottn59c They’ve made it clear they want him back but on their terms. He would be a veteran presence that is hard to replace. DH would really come in handy.
After their arbitration cases are settled, the Yankees project to be at $185M against the CBT (about $170M in payroll and the obligatory $15M for benefits that count against the CBT threshold). Signing DJL to a $20M+ per year deal will eat up the remainder of their available spending capacity before they go over the CBT for the 3rd year in a row. I just don’t see how the Yankees can re-sign LeMahieu and get under the CBT this year as they have to add at least 1, if not 2 SP to their roster. The Yankees need to decide how important it is for them to reset this year and fast or they are going to lose their team MVP. The problem for the Yankees is that they don’t have many tradable contracts that will reduce their payroll enough unless they are willing to move Judge (which is highly unlikely) or one of their high priced relievers. Stanton’s contract is unmovable as is Ottavino’s. I’m not sure any team would want Chapman and his full $18M contact either, so the only movable bullpen piece is Zack Britton @ $13M/yr and they just re-signed him thru 2022. There are really no other high priced pieces on the Yankees ($5M+) that are tradable either (no one wants that Hicks contract either). So they either need to say F it and go over the CBT again in 2021 or say goodbye to DJL and thank him for his service.
Stanton’s contract is not that bad, don’t forget the Marlins are paying a good chunk of it. If he could stay healthy the Yanks would have no problem finding a taker for him.
Umm the health is the whole reason the contract is horrible.. and the Marlins hardly pay anything..not to mention it pays him till he’s 42 years old!! clearly Mr Fever Pitch isn’t a Yankee fan
Pays him until age 38 where age 38 is the buyout year at 10M.
$27M/yr for Age 31-37 seasons is not bad if he can stay healthy, look at the other much higher contracts that have been given out the past few years. He’s only one year removed (I don’t count the joke of a 2020 season) of playing nearly every game in 2017-2018. It’s a mistake to write him off after just one injury-plagued 2019 season. And that’s coming from a Guy that obviously doesn’t want him to do well.
If Stanton was a free agent, he would not get anywhere close to the contract he has now. My guess is that he would get less than $60 million in total value if he was currently a free agent. He might even have to settle for a one year deal. Nobody will trade for him unless the Yankees eat most of the contract.
Marlins only pay 30M the last three years. 10M a year for the last three years with the last year being a buy out.
So paying stanton,2021 29 mil,22,29 mil, 23, 32 mil, 24,32 mil, 25, 32 mil ,26, 29 mil -10 from miami,27,25mil minus 10 from miami and 10 mil buyout in 28 paid by miami with him only playing 41 games in the last 2 years isnt that bad and movable and the yanks would have no problem moving it plus his no trade clause …. Good luck with that.
BTW no trade clauses are highly overrated. How often does a player actually use it to block a trade? I can recall just once over the past several years, can’t remember the player though. Bottom line is usually just good teams try to acquire players with no trade clauses, which makes it appealing to the player. And most players don’t want to stay with a team that wants to trade them.
There used all the time. The Marlins only had 4 teams to work with that Stanton would accept a trade. I think it was the Yanks, Dodgers, Cubs, and maybe the Astros. The Giants and St. Louis were interested but he said he wouldn’t go to either (lucky for them). But NTC are used a ton. Again, not sure what you’re talking about
Arte Moreno wouldn’t even take Stanton of the me Yankees agreed to take back Pujols & Upton. He’s owed way too much money for way too many years. The Yankees are stuck with him until the end of his deal.
What do you mean by take back?
Nah dude, Stantons contract is awful and the Marlins aren’t paying much. He’s completely unreliable to stay healthy, and I doubt that gets better as he ages.
@Fever Pitch
You’re absolutely delusional, and wrong.
Stantons contract is not bad indeed……..its absolutely horrific ! Theres not a worse contract in MLB and probably all of sports
Hand could have been had for $10MM, and every team passed. How much value do you think Britton will have at $13MM, or would he pass thru waivers, too?
Dorothy, you are forgetting their minor league salaries estimated to be 2.5 Mil and their 40 man payroll sits at 191.7 Mil. The total tax allocation for the Yanks sits at 209.7 Mil for 2021 which leaves them shy of the luxury tax by roughly 300 Thousand. (numbers via spotrac)
If the Yankees lose out on DJ, they’ll pivot to Realmuto. Of course, I could be completely wrong, and if so I should be ridiculed mercilessly.
Maybe, but they’d still have the CBT issue to worry about.
But Von Realmuto could well be signed well before DJL, then what do the Yanks do?
It’s JT. Sign Hernandez or so on. Get Bryant.
I expect Realmuto will be signed pretty late.
FIX THE TYPO IN HEADLINE, ITS SUPPOSED TO READ, ‘TORONTO IS INTERESTED’
One of the great things about Canada is that so many kids there have access to computers.
First off that’s as corny, smarmy, passive aggressive,and unfunny a joke one can make… Second, you’ve missed the whole running joke going & trending through the off-season, in that, ‘TORONTO IS INTERESTED’.. as half of mlbtr posts this hot stove are all about Toronto being interested in every free agent, that it’s become a punchline… 3rd, I’m a Yankee fan from NY… And 4th… I don’t mind being zinged made fun of, that’s inevitable in a comment section, but I don’t think you had anybody laughing out loud with the witty, “One of the great things about Canada is that so many kids there have access to computers”…what a jerk off!! lol
I’m not even Canadian or ever left the country, but your joke is the epitome of a joke made by someone with a bad sense of humor,… Canadian kids having access to computers, what a great premise for a joke, cause everyone knows, kids in USA have no access to computers, none what so ever, as computers and the internet are an adult thing, not a young persons thing at all, but Canada is so rich, kids have access to them, to apparently make jokes over you dont get….. It’s only January 3rd, but so far you got worst attempt at humor in 2021, congratulations eddie nice guy, your sarcasm is just so biting!!
Your joke was classic. You tried a 9.0 level of difficulty, namely coming off like a 14-year old kid on a computer, and you nailed it. Every judge is giving you a perfect score! I was affirming that perfection.
All you got is smarmy forced blatant sarcasm…Just keep the one liners coming Eddie Nice Guy, you gotta million of them, ah cha cha!!
The Yanks will be fine bringing back JASON NIX, who the hell wants a 2time batting champ, particularly one who crushes it at your home stadium, as Mr.Burns says, good riddance to bad rubbish!!!
Not sure who DJ’s agent is, but he’s in a great place here.
“Hello Yanks, hold on I’m talking to the Dodgers on the other line”
Yankees better watch out because he will pull a Josh Hamilton and not give the Yankees a chance to match if its the Dodgers. If the best offer is from the Blue Jays then sure…
The pick the Dodgers forfeited to sign Pollock was not #34.
Yes it was..,. arizonasports.com/story/1962725/all-arizona-diamon…
Dbacks got the 34th pick but thats not what the Dodgers forfeited. They forfeited their 2nd round pick.
You are correct
Cashman vs friedman
Not even close!
Cashman – is hamstrung by stanton’contract and other dubious contracts that can’t be off loaded in this financial environment.yankees have only 3 assets(urshela,torres and voit) that would bring back some talent.judge needs to be trade sooner than later to get a better return cashman has to hope his slightly over rated farm system produces very,very soon.
Friedman is a chess master with a lot of options.he could stand pat,he could sign a sp,he could sign lemahieu,he could do a blockbuster trade that would have to include a young sp like mize(det,plesac(cle) or anderson(atl) or he could sign a ss(this year or next) I’m always curious to what he will do
What sd gm(peller) did last week in roughly a 48 hour period was bold.this is the first time friedman will have competition while running a deep pocketed team.should be interesting.
I highly doubt that the Braves would trade Anderson to the Dodgers, but aside from that I agree with most of your points.
I am a little surprised people keep thinking the Yankees are a championship team right now, as even though the AL is pretty weak, I don’t think they will do much damage in the playoffs.
I wonder if Cashman is past his prime at this point. They haven’t been to the World Series in over ten years, even though they consistently have the highest payroll in baseball, and it doesn’t look like they will be going back anytime soon.
NYY is still a good team, but they need to execute the right moves if they want to stay in contention. I feel like they really got burned with injuries last year, and guys like Judge and Stanton, who are going to spend time on the IL, need to be supplemented with younger up and comers. Urshela was one such player, but the Yanks are going to need more help keeping guys on the field.
But Cashman is always the Executive of the Year!
Everyone is interested in everyone, but no one is making any moves outside of San Diego.
Sure feels that way, but you know how it can be with the hot stove. I commend San Diego’s aggressive moves, but I can also see some desperation there, much like in Preller’s first go-around, where he traded the farm for big-name players that flopped hard; he’d better hope that this roll of the dice goes better.
If the Dodgers sign DJ, what does that mean for Lux? I can’t imagine DJ plays 3rd everyday, and Lux has only played Short and 2nd right. Lux is a stud and just needs consistent at bats. I bet this DJ rumor is a crock made up by his camp to drive the Yankees price up.
La has a hole at 2B and 3B atm, with JT a free agent and Lux waiting to take over one of them
There is space, in theory, for JT+DJ, if LA thinks Lux needs more aaa time. He murdered the level, but he had a rough 2020 too
I understand the Dodgers have an opening at 3rd, but Lux nor DJ will play 3rd base full time. Signing DJ blocks Lux at 2nd, and Lux has dominated AAA already. Lots of players had a rough 2020, it was a mess of a season.
@bush1 Lots of players have dominated at AAA but never succeed against Major League pitching
Yeah I know. But not a lot dominate the way he did at his age, and aren’t at least decent in the majors. He’s yet to see anything close to consistent at bats in the majors because of the massive amount of talent the Dodgers have.
Lux isn’t going anywhere. Dodgers think very highly of him and he is controllable for a number of years. He has elite potential.
The Astros interested in LeMahieu? I don’t see the fit when they’re running out of Outfielders!
Unless they’ll go with Tucker in LF, Straw CF, McCormick RF, Alvarez DH.
Where exactly does he fit? 1B? That’s has to be the case but it’ll take Gurriel’s job and move to him to the bench. My idea is that they are preparing perhaps to trade Correa, and move Bregman to SS…..or even if they don’t trade him now….for when he leaves next off season or gets traded at the dead line!
Feels like a ploy to get JT to lower his price. But there is space, with or without JT, for DJLM. Lux could go to AAA or be a huge trade chip. Or if they believe the DH is coming, obviously that helps
I agree with the comments that DJLM’s power would decline outside of NY. He won’t forget how to hit, but it’s pretty obvious his numbers took a massive uptick in NY
His numbers took a massive uptick in NY… after leaving Colorado. Almost as if playing for a more functional franchise with better coaches plays a role too.
He’d be the perfect right handed bat to replace turner. That’s where I thought he’d go all along if not back to NY
The perfect RH bat at 3B for the Dodgers is Jose Ramirez. He’s signed to a very team friendly contract.. but still expensive for Cleveland. The cost in prospect currency would be well worth the return from the LAD’s..
Good old gson, trying to single handedly destroy baseball in Cleveland.
The bottom line is that Friedman has built what he wanted for years; a top level team with a solid mixture of veterans and youth
And he has the talent and financial resources to go any of a dozen directions to improve their chances of longer term success
He can sign any free agent he wants and he can create a trade package for anyone he wants
It is clear there is no front line starting pitcher he HAS TO HAVE and there are several options to improve the bull pen with 2-3 pickups
He could even end up with both DJLM and Arenado for the next five years, probably won’t but he could.
He can move this off season or at the trade deadline
The Dodgers will probably have nine guys in the lineup on opening day and they will probably be competitive
Oh to be the Dodgers right now. In Friedman we trust.
Helpful story for DJ and his agent. I wonder where it came from?
Wait, Yankee fans keep insisting free agents give the Yankees a discount because of “27! 27! 27!”
Wow Mr. Yankee expert, exactly which Yankee fans said that and in what posts….guess you’re brain is working overtime which you were warned about many, many times!
Wasnt it on mlbtr that they said the yankees always get their man? The only way a player leaves the yanks is if the yanks let him walk? If DJ signs elsewhere, the story will change to “the yankees decided to go in another direction. They appreciate the work he did as a yankee, but he didnt fit in due to his age. The yanks are looking to get younger.”
Name a player that left the yankees that the yankees wanted to keep?
you don’t need to look far on this site…
Yes, actually you do have to look far on this site to see references to 27 by NYY fans. Aside from the idiot SFG-hater who briefly appeared under the name 27ringsbitches, actual comment references to “27” were pretty darn scarce in 2020. I know because I read about 97% of all comments and pay careful attention to what NYY fans actually say. They are accused of many things they do not do, or at least do not do any more frequently than other fans (like making bad trade proposals or being jerks, which other fans do with reckless abandon while NYY fans do only occasionally). You’re just channeling blind, unsubstantiated hate.
I would say 15 or fewer comment references to ’27’ in 2020, far fewer than the references to the Yankees’ 1 WS in 11 years, about the same number of references (15 or less) as the SFG’s 3 in 5 and far, far fewer than the number of references to the RS 4 WS in 17 years. Not often mentioned is the RS 4 WS in 102 years. References to the one WS by the Astros and the one WS by the Dodgers have far, far exceeded references to ’27.’ So there’s all that.
@MoRivera 1999 Hey Mo, may we see the actual score sheet?
Cool story MoBro.
They need to get him and seagar to keep up on their dominance in the west. Turner can go but they prob need to bring him back also
If DJ signs a 4 year deal, Yankees will be there. If Dodgers or another team willing to give him 5yr. Sign Andres For 1 year deal for short. And next year good SS FA out there. I like DJ, but we have to realizes it is a business. You can only carry so many bad (too long ) contracts.
I think it’s the fact that other teams knew it was basically a done deal with DJ and the Yankees. Nobody bothered bc they thought it was a foregone conclusion. Now it’s January and teams are shocked that the ink on the contract isn’t dry and now they are starting to throw their hats in the ring.
Disagree man…when a player elects free agency, he and his agent are broadcasting either they are available for the right price and years, or they are using other offers as leverage against the short list of teams they really want in the bidding. To your comment, which teams are in the hunt and what have they offered in cash and years….thats my point….all rumor so far…….
Don’t think anyone is more surprised than Cashman that he has not had to bid so far against anyone but himself….which if you follow Cashman and/or the Yankees they always try to stay away from….of course you also have to figure in Covid and the affect its had on owner revenues….whether you believe them or not, this is not the year to over spend without any sure sign that its going to be a regular season with 162 games and fans in the stands.
This post would not exist, but for the fact that the Padres made the Dodgers’ front office collectively poop their pants in the last couple of weeks. Gotta love it. Can’t wait to watch those two battle it out this year.
@HALfromVA LOL…….I guarantee you Hal, that nobody in the Dodgers front office is scrambling or in panic mode!
Dodgers don’t react to anyone. They will wait and let the market come to them.
DJ to play 2nd base and JT or Rios at 3rd
Is Rios capable enough to handle 3rd? I’m not up on his abilities there.
Well like I’ve said before Cash and Hal only want the appearance of trying to sign DJ, they don’t actually want to spend the money on him which is clear as day when it’s 1 year that separates them on a deal. Seriously a 4 year deal is fine but a 5 year deal is too risky? Lol
I’m pretty annoyed the Yankees are going to take a significant step back next year. I don’t see how they won’t unless their young pitching blows everyone’s expectations away.
This hopefully will be a good lesson for Hal and Cashman. They have been up in their offices getting way too cozy and ish is about to hit the fan this year. The media is in love with Steve Cohen in NY right now so this might be a rough year for those two. But hey I don’t feel bad because they have been extremely ignorant and pompous for a very flawed team that routinely gets bounced in the playoffs.
Great. So all the MFn big names are going to be f’n concentrated in F’n Cali MFn fornia?? Wonderful. Why do my F’n Jays even MF’n bother? So F’n lame. These F’n players are all MFers
Rich get richer
I thought he already signed with the Blue Jays, to play on the dirt alongside of Lindor.
MLBTR writers are slacking!!!!!
What are you talking about here. You do realize this is website dedicated to mlb rumors? The Jays are in on a lot of players, so they are mentioned a lot right now. I’m not sure why so many people are getting worked up over this.
Hal needs his DNA checked.
Dear god please just trade Gavin Lux and give him an honest opportunity….
Lux had a great opportunity this year, but it didn’t happen. Playing for the Dodgers, you need to produce immediately and he didn’t, so you roll with the punches and get better in AAA.
This past season was an absolute mess and Lux wasn’t given much of an opportunity at all. Plus he was out early with COVID crap and missed a bunch or training camp at bats. I agree they should deal him if they think so little of him to sign DJ to a long term deal. His trade value will only go down from here if they sign DJ
He will get his shot this year.
Not if they sign DJ he won’t. They’re not signing DJ to play 3rd everyday. That would be dumb. Maybe occasionally…
first DJ was good because of Coors. then he was good because of Yankee Stadium. what’s the next excuse when he keeps doing well if he goes elsewhere.
Signing LeMahieu would be a LUXury for the Dodgers. I’ll see myself out.
love JT but if he’s stuck on 3 years i think you need to go w DJ
he’s been the heart of the team but its not a sentimental journey at the end of a career
and the last two have clearly shown a decline that can’t be denied
players fall of the cliff the majority of the time at his age
should there be a UDH then having both would be awesome
just don’t see it since my belief is someone else will offer the 3 years
So your thinking here is the Dodgers sign LeMahieu, whose premium defensive position is 2B, and have him play 3B?
not necessarily. maybe they aren’t all star defenders but Rios and Muncy have put time in there as well as Taylor. we can figure it out.
Jesus F’n Christ! All these F’n players become free agents and automatically want to F’n go to F’n California or MF’n New York. Just HAVE to have the glamour city to pacify their F’n egos. God forbid they choose a less glamourous MF’n market. Makes me f’n sick! Free agency is F’n lamr as F.
Hey Ramon, take an effen chill pill bro!!!
No
I thought 10 days ago the Dodgers chance of passing the CBt was at 10%
Today a hair over 25% w Sd’s surge
I dont pretend to know their spending budget but signing Dj would probably put them past it w no other moves corresponding
Maybe they have word tho on the inside Price will be opting out again (theres been some spec)- That opens up a lotta new doors for 21 if so
Of the Big 4 left I think Dj is the best fit here – The sight of Pollock makes me cringe today knowing the opp cost
Luxury tax hit aside he would would be a good fit for the Dodgers. That being said if the interest is real I believe their involvement will be what it takes for the Yankees to meet his ask.
The Dodgers run of success is largely due to their utilization of inexpensive, controllable players allowing them to maintain financial flexibility. With Rios and Lux on deck, and Seager and Bellinger approaching free agency, I believe the Dodgers will pass on DJ.
I agree, either they resign JT to a 2 year deal or give Rios a chance. Muncy and Taylor are also capable of playing third
LeMahieu has played more than 90% of his innings at 2B and he won three Gold Gloves at that position. So that makes him the obvious choice to play 3B.
If the MLB commissioner office does what they said, that MLB season would not start till after May 1st the CBT for Dodgers and Yankees will not matter. Yankees may want to sign Kike Hernandez he wants a 1-year contract and can play everywhere but catcher. He even pitched for Dodgers when they were up like 10 runs. Then trade for good pitching prospects or sign cheap pitching free agents. Watch who is released after the season starts. Yankees and Dodgers did not have to pay revenue sharing in 2020 and may not have to in 2021.
if Kike wants one year he’s a Dodger next year