JAN. 27: The Yankees have announced LeMahieu’s six-year deal. It includes full no-trade protection for the first two seasons and then limited no-trade rights for the next four, Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweets. As Nightengale points out, because LeMahieu will have 1o-and-5 rights following 2023, the Yankees won’t be able to trade him after that without his permission. He’ll earn $15MM in each season of the contract, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets.
JAN. 15, 9:10am: It’ll be a six-year, $90MM contract for LeMahieu when finalized, as was first reported by Pat Ragazzo (Twitter link). The $90MM overall guarantee isn’t particularly surprising, but it is indeed an eye-opener to see that sum come over a six-year term rather than five or even four years.
That LeMahieu agreed to a lengthier pact is a boost for the Yankees, as the associated $15MM luxury hit will “only” put the team at about $195MM in terms of 2021 luxury-tax obligations. That leaves the club with as much as $14-15MM of space before reaching the $210MM luxury barrier.
8:52am: The Yankees’ preference was indeed to drive down the luxury-tax hit by lengthening the contract, tweets Bowden, though the precise length of the deal still isn’t clear.
8:17am: The Athletic’s Jim Bowden tweets that LeMahieu’s contract will be more than four years in length. That makes a five-year deal seem likeliest, barring an unexpected six-year arrangement at a comparable total but lower annual rate that is designed to lessen the luxury hit for the Yankees.
7:04am: After a months-long staredown, the Yankees are closing in on a new contract with second baseman DJ LeMahieu, reports Jon Morosi of MLB.com (via Twitter). Terms of the potential agreement aren’t yet known, but the deal could be completed as soon as today, per Morosi. LeMahieu is represented by Wasserman.
LeMahieu, 32, has been the Yankees’ top priority all season. General manager Brian Cashman acknowledged as much a couple of weeks back, but the club has also seemingly been letting LeMahieu explore his options on the open market rather than emulating the Yankees of old and simply writing him a blank check up front. The interest between the two parties was mutual, and it’s long been apparent that the Yankees would have the opportunity to match any offer LeMahieu received elsewhere. The impending reunion will surely come at a loftier price than his initial deal, which proved to be a bargain; reports have recently suggested that LeMahieu has been looking to top Josh Donaldson’s four-year, $92MM contract — ideally on a five-year arrangement.
The focus on LeMahieu is more than understandable for the Yankees, who looked like an oddball fit for the longtime Rockies second baseman two years ago when he inked a two-year, $24MM contract to come to the Bronx. The Yankees already boasted a relatively full infield, but injuries and LeMahieu’s immediate, career-best production quickly thrust him into regular work in manager Aaron Boone’s lineup. The versatile LeMahieu logged action not only at second base but also at the infield corners, emerging not only as the Yankees’ most productive hitter in that time but as a bona fide MVP candidate in the American League.
During his two seasons in New York, LeMahieu has turned in an outstanding .336/.386/.536 batting line — including a superhuman .364/.421/.590 line in 2020’s truncated season. That .364 showing marked the second time in his career that LeMahieu has led the league in average — he won a batting title with the 2016 Rockies as well — but he’d never put together this type of power until landing in New York. Yankee Stadium proved to be the perfect fit for LeMahieu, who leads the Majors in opposite-field home runs over the past couple of seasons after fully taking advantage of his new home park’s short porch in right field.
That’s not to diminish LeMahieu’s production with the Yankees, of course. He remains one of the toughest players in all of baseball to strike out thanks to his superlative bat-to-ball skills, and LeMahieu has upped his hard-hit rate and exit velocities since his days at Coors Field. LeMahieu’s 12.7 percent strikeout rate is the seventh-lowest in all of baseball among qualified hitters over the past two seasons, and he has the eighth-lowest swinging-strike rate of any player in the Majors in that time.
A reunion with the Yankees means that LeMahieu will remain the primary second baseman, with Gleyber Torres reprising his role at shortstop. There’s been plenty of question about Torres’ ability to develop into a strong or even average defender at shortstop after a pair of seasons punctuated by miscues, but the club has publicly expressed confidence that Torres is up to the challenge.
LeMahieu and Torres, then, will be penciled in as the Yankees’ double-play tandem for the foreseeable future, with Gio Urshela and Luke Voit holding down the infield corners. That still leaves former Rookie of the Year runner-up Miguel Andujar without a clear path to everyday at-bats, though he still has a minor league option remaining and can also be worked in as an oft-used bench piece seeing time at third, first and in left field.
The fit in the lineup was always obvious, but the fit into the Yankees’ budget was another question. The Yanks, of course, have deeper pockets than just about any team in the league, but after last year’s franchise-record level of spending — the Yankees’ $108MM prorated payroll was larger than several teams’ full-season payroll would have been — owner Hal Steinbrenner has reportedly been intent on lowering the team’s payroll and dipping beneath the $210MM luxury tax threshold.
The potential free-agent departures of J.A. Happ, James Paxton, Brett Gardner and Masahiro Tanaka help to drive down that bottom line, as did Tommy Kahnle’s non-tender, but it’s been apparent for months that the Yankees weren’t going to look to replicate the aggressiveness that brought Gerrit Cole to New York on an MLB-record deal for a pitcher. Even without a single addition, the Yankees were projected just shy of $181MM in terms of luxury-tax obligations, per Roster Resource’s Jason Martinez, and adding a likely $20MM+ salary for LeMahieu will eat up anywhere from two-thirds to three-quarters of the space that separates the Yankees and that competitive balance tax threshold.
The Yankees are still in need of some rotation depth even after signing Cole last winter. Luis Severino is expected back from Tommy John surgery but will clearly have his workload monitored. The same is true of righty Domingo German, who’ll be returning from a lengthy suspension under MLB’s domestic violence policy. Jordan Montgomery, top prospects Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt, righty Mike King and swingman Luis Cessa are among the other options for Boone, but it’s clear that some veteran innings would prove quite beneficial.
Barring a trade to shed some payroll, however, it’s tough to see a way for the Yankees to both retain Tanaka and limbo underneath the luxury-tax bar. That reality, and some recent comments from Tanaka himself, have fueled speculation that the 32-year-old righty could return to Japan, leaving a considerable void on the Yankees’ starting staff. There are plenty of veteran options to be had on more affordable deals and various trade options to pursue, of course, and Cashman’s focus now seems likely to shift to solving that puzzle.
Another right answer for the contest!
They have to do something to keep pace with the White Sox
The White Sox are irrelevant until they produce on the field.
Technically, aren’t the Yankees irrelevant? Can’t make the WS with all that talent
I guess you could say that about every team in the off-season.
I don’t think a team is irrelevant if it’s reasonable to mention them. But there’s a difference between the looks on paper, and arrival. White Sox division is so weak that it’s helping to negate any floor they have in them.
Technically all but 2 teams are irrelevant according to your statement.
The Yankees aren’t trying to “Keep Pace” with the White Sox was my point. They haven’t achieved anything, they’re the flavor of the month. The Yankees are trying to keep pace with the Dodgers, Astros, As and Rays, not the White Sox. If you can’t see that, then this whole conversation is irrelevant because you’re late for 3rd period children.
Please explain your use of the word “rechnically”. Your sentence doesn’t really make any sense.
Rechnically sounds like a powerful ED pill.
lol
Amazing deal for the team. It shows why not many others truly got involved. While I thought Boston should have gotten involved to up the eventual cost to NY, maybe this deal allows them to sign others as it has to deflate the market in general. Also tells me how even the Yankees are worried about revenues in the near future.
The WS had a better record than the NYY last year, and a much better than the Astros.
Unfortunately, your record is what it is. Until you catch the WS, you cannot keep pace with them.
You strike me as the type to downplay everyone’s achievements but the Yankees…because you’re the child, hence why everyone else is a child but you and fellow Yankee fans.
Pretty soon we’ll be running flags up the pole because the Yankees had the best record in the state of NY in any given month.
Imagine if “the Boss” was still here. Another 11 year doubt without a ring. I’ve said this before but I really do think Gerrit Cole will be the Jason Giambi of this decade. That was a 9 year drought. They’ve got 8 years left. As much as I despise the Yankees I can’t fathom them have a 20 year championship drought.
@Red_Line_9 well put I agree with you but I’ll add that really all teams carry some type of relevance. Every team has a fan base who are always going to root for their team and talk about their team and that’s relevance right?
Lol since 2000 white Sox have same amount of championships as Yankees
Yankees – living in the minds of fans across the nation. Some are even NYY Fans
White Sox haven’t done squat yet. Prove yourself on the field and then we can talk. Plenty of teams have looked good on paper
The Yankees’ current roster has done squat yet, either. How many titles has anyone on the Yankees won with that team? How many times have any of them even gone to the WS with the Yankees?
To your point, though, yeah, the White Sox haven’t won anything yet. Doesn’t mean it’s not fair to mention them. When their late fade started last year, they had the best record in the AL, as well as one of the top offenses in baseball. They still finished with a better record and higher run differential in a division that had a slightly better winning percentage than the AL East. This year, they’ve improved their rotation, RF (albeit not by much), and their BP and are expected to graduate several prospects. The team is already good and projects to improve further. Meanwhile, even when the Yankees sign DJLM, they still have to rebuild their rotation and are out of money. They have to prove they’re not just good on paper, too.
Yankee fan here, and I agree. Cashman has done a poor job of putting together a balanced team, recently wasting money on Happ and Stanton in particular. Actually, Tanaka of today wouldn’t make a marked difference so I’d pass.
Yanks are going nowhere until they fix the starting pitching
Yes, because no matter many runs you score, it’s not easy to win the whole freaking enchilada if your pitching sucks.
Cashman cannot manufacture a pitching market. The best pitcher to be available in the past five years signed with the Yankees (Cole). Everyone needs more pitching. Every team needs young controllable pitching. That is why it is so hard to find. A few teams need a second baseman 30 teams need more pitching. Teams are scoring runs at a steroid era pace. But needing pitching and having pitching available are two different things. When there isn’t enough pitching available, be the best offense. You can’t win a game 0-0, but you can win a game 100-99.
They have the assets to trade for pitching. Supposedly, at least one of Castillo or Gray are available. Marquez hasn’t been moved yet. There are options. Yankees would have to surrender real value from their farm to get any of these guys, but should be able to hold on to Dominguez at least, and likely even Garcia.
Boom
Gray? As in Sonny Gray? Please tell me you’re joking.
How many have the White Sox gotten right in the contest?
I don’t know how to even go view my picks. I think I picked Hendriks to the Sox, but doubt I’ve gotten any others right.
Check your email.
mlbtraderumors.com/mlb-free-agent-prediction-conte…
Enter contest in the search bar, there’s a link to enter your user name for your full predictions.
Thanks. When DJLM signs, that’ll be 3 right. Good thing I didn’t put money down on this.
Fire Boone and then hire an 85 year old drunk as manager? Got it.
Lou Brown, where have you gone?
Totally bizarre signing. It’ll be interesting to see if Larussa can relate…AT ALL to his players.
that drunk head, was responsible for St. Louis most recent success as a team. they also won the WS as well u drr his command.
you do know that he’s responsible for St. Louis most recent success and WS tittle right?
it’s a pretty good landing spot for a guy that can’t hit a ball more than 340 feet.
To be fair he’s only 17
Another breaking news story: “this morning the sun rose in the east, all signs point towards a western sunset.”
The guy wasn’t worth as much to any other club in baseball.
Don’t know why he wouldn’t be, gold glove, batting champ, silver slugger award winner. Has some pop in his bat, hits to all fields. Versatility in the field, Only negative is his age at 32. But should age well for at least the next 3 seasons.
I think most of his pop is from playing in Yankee Stadium.
@GP John You mean former Gold Glove winner. The last two years give LeMahieu a big ole question mark over him in regards to defense, especially with how bad that glove was last year.
That’s not to say that is all he brings to the table or that issue can’t be mended. I’m just pointing out that that specific detail is in limbo until the upcoming season is finished and we see how he fares in that particular field
I’m guessing 4 years 90 mil with a vesting 5th year option. Maybe even a player option thrown in after the 2nd year.
6/90 million yikes another overpay for Yankees
Yeah Yankees are always hurting for money. Can’t believe they re-signed their most consistent player. SMH.
$15MM/yr is an overpay? Hardly.
Always listening the fans
CANADA! READY THE STROLLERS! PREPARE TO THROW THE TOYS!
?
Angry at jays for doing nothing again
No mate. Not angry at all. Laughing at anyone who is or pretends to be.
You mean Jays fans? Lots of Jays fans outside Canada. You sound ready to storm the capital.
If MLBtv and radio has had a single effect, it’s been on the number of Jays fans created in the States. I could listen to Jerry Howarth anytime.
Nice to hear it! Jerry is gold, gold Jerry! However it would have been nice to ink DJL, as the Jays are mostly pre-arb guys not making any money yet. If this ends up being a 4 yr 80, you’d think Rogers could have made that happen. But it does also take desire on the players’ part, which always seems to be an issue in T.O. Unless there’s an overpay.
@scotthhh
Sounds ready to storm the capital?
Must be the burner account of the antifa/blm activist John Sullivan who was recently arrested for storming the capital.
Or burner account of the democratic NY Supreme Court Judge son, Aaron, Mostofsky, who was also arrested for storming the capital.
Why, because we are not over paying or meeting other teams ridiculous asking prices in trades?
in the Lindor deal for example, The Indians were asking for Lourdes Jr. no way on earth they get him for a year of Lindor. Springer is not worth $175 M or more. He’s 31. I would go $125 with over 5 with perhaps a club option for another $25 and done.
by the way, The Mets hot Lindor now, but let’s see if they’ll be able to retain him afterwards.
Bout F’ing time!
Hopefully this will start the ball rolling on top free agent signings! I am really curious as to the term and dollars on this potential deal.
I wonder what the years are. Need to know if I should be upset or not.
He’s reporting 4 for 80mil. Idk that was no where near DJs asking price.
Who is reporting that? that was the initial offer by the Yankees
Jon morosi at 6 am
He never posted any dollars or term that i can find, even MLB’s story using Morosi’s tweet does not quote any dollars or term. Morosi has said he thinks it is likely in the Josh Donaldson range
I had him at 4 years and 70 million. That is just what he is worth outside of Yankee stadium. I think LeMahieu finally realized that the Yankees were not going to pay him based on his Yankees numbers but what he would likely produce elsewhere. Seems fair to me if 4/80 is the case.
This contract will go over like a fart in church
all contracts over $10M always do, to the bores who comment on this site
Yankee Stadium is the perfect fit for any hitter because its a joke.
agreed
DJLM 2020 home OPS: 1.265
DJLM 2020 away OPS: .759
Good for him though, James Harden-style big money/stat padding/no rings mentality.
You know, these kind of stats are overblown. It’s not like the guy is worthless on the road. If a guy rakes in his home ballpark, isn’t that a good thing anymore? He plays half of his games there for heavens sake. Most players do better at home. Analytics are great to a point, but baseball is still just baseball. It hasn’t been changed, just reinterpreted. Just like American history.
You’re better off arguing small sample size for 2020. 0.759 OPS is rather pedestrian. About league average OPS and slightly above average for 2B. In general most players have slightly above average OPS at home but you don’t see spreads like these unless you’re in a very hitter friendly park like Coors and Yankee stadiums. Players that play in pitching friendly parks often have higher away OPS. With these splits you need a larger sample size. Trouble for DJ is that he had wide splits in Colorado and those splits widened even more as a Yankee. I expect that spread to decline next season but he’ll still have a wide home/away spread. He would have a tough time OPSing above 0.800 as a Dodger having to play half his games at Dodger Stadium.
Blue jays fans (myself included) yelling at their screens begging shatkins to sign someone other then themselves
Not at a screaming level just yet. Jays fans keep preaching patience yet the same ones aren’t being that patient. This might turn out to be a good thing as we wait for the years and salary numbers.
Well Guest i am going to guess 100 Mil over 5 years
And that might be a good thing for the Jays.
Let’s play devil’s advocate here; if the Jays signed Wong to a short deal, signed Bauer and maybe a vet pitcher for under $10-mil per year, would the Jays be considered a contender? Maybe. Better infield D, improved pitching staff with two top arms plus Pearson up and coming.
I’m firmly in the camp of the Jays needing Bauer above all other top FA simply because pitching is need #1. How they fill other holes is their prerogative. Lemahieu is very good, but this does not completely hurt the Jays.
I agree Guest, I think Bauer should be on top of the list. Sign Bauer, Walker? and trade for Bryant and the Jays are good to go.
Does Bauer consider Blue Jays a contender? I dought it AL east will be tuff every year, Yankees, Redsox, and Rays I see bluejay at number 4 over the next 6 years. Yankees and Redsox will both have a reset CBT tax rate and in 2022 and beyond they will spend heavily. The rays will be the Rays and what happens to CBT tax on the new collective bargain agreement. 250,000,000 dollars.
JaysFan1977 – if not Bauer, pivot and go after Arenado/Marquez. Take Blackmon too if it means shedding Roark and Grichuk and landing Marquez. Jays have to prospect capital to do it. Arenado hits 5 or 6 with stellar D.
This is why Jays fans are a joke on this site. Been irrelevant since 94, but yall think players actually want to go to Canada and pay more taxes for services they don’t get to use because they don’t live there.
No one really wants to play there unless the Jays wildly overpay. DJLM probably would have wanted $200M to play there, yet you can’t see this because you are delusional.
I am hoping Jays don’t sign that clubhouse cancer. They need to stay far away. I can’t stand the thought that his agent is telling Bauer to STFU during these negotiations and he still can’t stop being disruptive. It’s all about him. No team wants to sign him but one team will have to do it in the end . I just hope its not the Jays.
amen…
Canada isn’t much different tax wise than the lovely state of California.
LOL! If you think your GM is going to sign Yankees to leave the Yankees and NYC to go to Toronto, when the Yankees want him back, you’re going to be one disappointed little camper.
Toronto has to really overpay before any player would sign to go to Canada; I read that they have to live in Canada and pay taxes.
Larry…don’t know what Bauer thinks. The Jays should still be going hard for Bauer. And overpay? Sure. Go get.
@larry48 – Jays fans think they’re a big FA contender because literally 1 big FA went there (Ryu). Delusional, they’re the new “preseason Mariners” the team everyone thinks will get every big name, but never does – no one wants to play there to pay those taxes, and the Yankees and Red Sox will always top any offer they will make.
Wrong again Marty. Jays fans believe they can contend sooner rather than later, thus the expectation that their GM lands a big fish. Has very little to do with signing Ryu. Blue Jays can top any offer if they chose to. They have deeper pockets than the two aforementioned teams but you wouldn’t know that.
Jays are easily in contention. They have a young roster and at least two great pitchers in that rotation. I say they’re at least third in the division but may surprise. They need another big pitcher and for Pearson to pan out as a starter.
Marty you are clearly not an international tax accountant. The differences in US v Canadian tax rates is nowhere near what you’re making it out to be. In New York, California, and a couple other states you could wind up worse off than if you were playing in Canada. Please stop spewing crap that you have no idea about. Here’s an interesting breakdown for anyone that likes real information.
theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/tax…
Jays are having by far the best offseason of anyone. They’ve managed to drive up the price on players who were never going to sign in Toronto for other teams and avoid the ticking time bombs that is any multiple year contract. Jays fans should be grateful they didn’t get Hendricks or DJ. Remember when Russ Martin signed. That was actually a terrible contract.
This is great and all for Yankees fans, but what are they gonna do about that rotation?
Go get Kluber and Tanaka now. Only bring back Gardy if it’s less than 5 Million.
I feel like Kluber will go to a team with less pressure
@Luc, I don’t think so. I think he wants the pressure. He was great in the 2016 playoffs and I’d imagine he’d want to prove that his 2017 and 2018 playoff showings were aberrations. I don’t think he’s the kind of guy who’s scared of bright lights.
Don’t bring back Gardner. He’s a waste of a roster spot.
Judge, Hicks, Stanton, Frazier, and Tauchman pretty much leaves no room for Gardner anyway.
I picked Gardner to retire in the contest. I doubt they bring him back and I don’t see him wanting to go somewhere else at this point.
FINALLY! It took long enough!
Less pressure team means he will be dealt at the deadline
Don’t worry Blue Jays will probably get Springer.
Springer would be a good pick up for the Buffalo Blue Jays. Sorry Toronto, I kind of got use to roofing for the 2nd best baseball team in NY last year. They’re going to only get better, should be some interesting games between them and my Yankees
“Probably” definitely the wrong word. He’s probably a Met, unless the Mets don’t make a competitive offer which they will.. The Blue Jays are an outside possibility but it’s really hard to see outfielders going to a concrete playing surface. I can’t think of many outfielders who did that voluntarily. Can anyone think who the last outfielder was to signed as a free agent to play on artificial turf.
;
Toronto needs to find players without no-trade contracts, and trade for them. The ones with no-trades all list Toronto as a no-trade destination. You see it all the time during the year, that a player has a NTC and every single one seems to list Toronto. That’s why I think it’s funny when they complain in the offseason like they thought the players wanted to go there and its’ their GM”s fault they don’t. LOL!
I dought Springer will sign with Bluejays.
I dought it too 🙂
Yankers will soil themselves if Mets sign Springer…
“Dealt at the deadline”. Lol wut?
All is right with the world.
Love Dj..but I think the Yankees would have been better served getting DD back for shortstop and moving Torres back to second…defense up the middle not so good with Torres at short and Sanchez catching….besides, we could have used DD’s left handed bat…Yankees-way too right handed
From Didi’s radio interview, it seemed he had little interest in a Yankees reunion.
I love Didi but his defense is only average at best and will be worse with age. Sanchez still has a plus-arm for baserunners. DJL also hits to all fields well.
Yes, Sanchez does still have a plus-arm for baserunners, but it’s really too bad that he is not very good defensively. I mean, I’m not saying that he has to be a gold glove fielder, but it would be nice if he was even just simply a competent fielder.
Because Yankee Stadium so obviously suits him, he’d be stupid to sign anywhere else.
Nothing wrong having it all. Didi back at short, Gleyber to second, DJ plays first. Trade Voit and players for a pitcher. However don’t think Cashman thinks that far ahead. Cashman still likes to play checkers and Cohen playing Chess.
When are you changing your username to “mlbnymfan”? Why would it be best to utilize an above average 2B at first base? Making moves for the sake of doing so rarely works out.
What are you talking about mlbnyyfan? Cashman has 4 rings. Cohen has been the Mets owner for 5 minutes
Lol Cohen spends money so he is the genius! Cashman…those rings are just details.
A lot of cart before the horse w Mets fans. Win first, bloviate later.
He would be smart to go where he gets the most money.
Blue Jays in on everybody and as usual get no one
What’s the prediction for DJL I’m thinking 4 years 88 Million.
I’m thinking that plus a 5th year option at $20M with a nice buyout of $5M.
Article now states a contract over 4 years probably 5 years but could be 6 years at a lower AAV to help yanks avoid luxury tax
There’s been like four of the top 25 FA’s that have signed, I’m still going to be shocked if they don’t come out of the offseason with one of the remaining big 3.
I can’t imagine Kluber is looking for a bad team for less pressure. A losing team makes for an unhappy season. His teams have won a lot.
Agreed, which is why I think he goes to the Mets. The back end of their rotation could use an upgrade. If he returns to form, that rotation is great. If he doesn’t, they have a solid #5. Worst-case, he bombs and they lose some money, but I expect him to be looking for a one-year make-good deal.
If he wants something closer to a guaranteed shot at a spot, but with a team less likely to win, the Angels rotation could be a good spot. Unless they land Bauer, they’re still likely to finish 2nd or 3rd in that division, but they could surprise people if Kluber returns to form. Won’t be contenders, but it’d be a good move on a one-year deal.
Cash, ya took long enough
Esthetically, at least in the short run, probably a good signing. Economically, probably less of one, especially if they want to get under the CBT and the allocation of money makes it harder to sign other players to fill holes.
Overall, that’s what I think of this. He was their best player, but aside from Britton, Ottavino, and Garcia, they don’t have much coming off the books after next year. The Stanton contract is a Pujols-esque anchor and in 22-23, a fair share of their players will hit their more expensive 2nd and 3rd years of arbitration. I expect Sanchez to be non-tendered next year, but unless the new CBA changes the CBT markedly, they may have some tough roster decisions ahead. Contrary to what some Yankees fans believe, the rest of the baseball world isn’t salivating at the chance to acquire Sanchez and Andujar.
They just re-signed Britton for 2 years this offseason so Britton does not come off the books until the end of 2022.
Thanks, must have missed that piece of news.
Wonder what the Dodgers will do now.
finish second to the padres lol
Dodgers will sign Turner for 2 years plus an option 3rd year with 2 million buys out.
im praying bruh im praying they sign him
dodgers better do something before they lose on the biggest name they can get!
Jacoby LeMahieu
This reply aged wonderfully
I would like to personally thank Steve Cohen for this signing. If the Mets didn’t start making moves Cash and Hal were perfectly content running this strictly as a business and did not care about putting the most competitive team on the field. They would have just been happy making the playoffs and hey if they won a World Series it was house money.
Thank you Mr. Cohen. Looking forward to a big city rivalry for the future.
Y’all need some pitchers before there’s a rivalry.
Cole can’t pitch 162 games.
Man I’m just happy sports in NY are relevant again. Islanders and Rangers will be fun for the foreseeable future and so will the Mets and Yankees. Sports in NY is better when both teams in the sport are thriving.
Lol, is that a Mets fan saying the Yankees cannot claim a rivalry because they are not good enough (lacking pitching)? Delusional. Win before you run your mouth. No team is guaranteed anything–including the mets in the NL East.
Lol and this is what I missed! Come on Uncle Steve make me hate the Mets with passion again!
Exactly, because the games aren’t played on paper.
Depth piece.
Couldn’t resist.
i mean he could replace edwin diaz as the closer hope i spelled that right.
Amazing how many players “gain” power in NY (cough, cough).
true new york is just power all the way
2020 home OPS: 1.265
2020 away OPS: .759
L
O
L
So he took a huge discount just to boost his stats at Yankee Stadium.
Maybe he also believes that the Yankees have a better chance of winning titles than the Blue Jays. He could also just like it there. Not everything is about money.
6 for 90 seems like a steal. That’s barely a raise from last year.
My thoughts too. A shame the cheap ass cardinals couldnt pony up for probably one of the 15 best players in baseball. I mean 15 mil, we are paying Fowler and carp 36 mil to produce a third of those stats lol
Yep. 4 years for 90 would’ve been fair. Anything they get from his last two years is like a free bonus. And it’s not like he’s going to be in his 40s, there’s a decent chance he’ll have something left.
“There’s been plenty of question about Torres’ ability to develop into a strong or even average defender at shortstop after a pair of seasons punctuated by miscues, but the club has publicly expressed confidence that Torres is up to the challenge.”
Privately they’re hoping he can improve from the worst defensive shortstop in MLB to the second worse. As Casey Stengel used to say, “If you don’t believe me you can look it up.”
Looks like DJLM left them room to try getting Tanaka back if they so choose or at least some decent starter.
WTF. 90m over 6 years?!?!?!
He could have easily gotten 100/5 or more.
In a toilet of a city he didn’t want to play in maybe.
Why would he want to play in a park that suppresses his stats, when he could play in one where you can pretty much check swing or bunt one out?
Same thoughts here. Only $15 per?
I dont think those +100 mill contracts get obtained easily these days, especially at his starting age entering the contract
I get that he’s been a great player for the Yankees.
But, if you are looking at the Yankees roster, and I am telling you that you have a hard cap and can only add $30 million in salary, not a dime more- does it really makes sense to spend somewhere around $20 million on one player?
Seems to me the better play would be three players (including preferably a SS) at around $25 million, leaving some room for an in season acquisition.
Plus- stretching this deal out in problematic as well. The Yankees have guys whose salaries are going to explode in the next couple of years- which is why they are trying to stay under the cap, because this is likely the last chance they will have to do so. So, four years from now when they are way over the cap they will be paying a large tax payment in addition to salary for a guy who might well be a utility infielder by then.
Smart deal and structured as I predicted. Longer deal for lower AAV, although I was originally figuring it would be five. Now onward. This was the least surprising signing of the offseason. LeMahieu was always returning to the Yankees.
Lol $90 mil was the freaking hang up for one of the best players in the game for the last 2 years? I want to slap Cash and Hal for dragging something this simple out until now.
Also shame on the rest of baseball for not going after this guy. This guy leads directly to wins. Analytics, eye test, old school, new school…..doesn’t matter what you use to gauge him he was one of the best players in baseball the last 2 years.
It probably was a hang up on DJs end too. He wanted more for less years likely and they said ok go find it then come back to us and was probably unable.
Oh great, another Yankees fan who thinks playing home games in a place my grandma could hit in makes a player better.
Check DJLM’s splits, he’s NOT the hitter Yankee stadium makes him look like.
He is, however, a fine player anyway. As for leading to wins, I don’t see any rings on his finger, or on any Yankee since 2010. Interesting to see you don’t think the last decade exists, huh?
I’m sure the Hangup was DJ not the Yanks. He was probably wanting much more. It’s hard to blame him, and great deal for the Yankees.
Nice for Yankees fans, but always boring when a player returns to the same team.
It’s about time, but six years? As a Rays fan, sorry but I hope the decline starts now. The dude has raked the last two years.
Wait, you’re a Rays fan? I’ve been searching for one of you guys….or gals. : -)
His talent is reliant on his hitting and defense. Not on his speed. Highly doubt he starts declining until his mid 30s.
How on earth could the Blue Jays not top that offer, if not on term, then at least on value?
LeMahieu clearly wanted to return to the Yankees.
I could see a scenario where maybe they did. Let’s say they offered a 4/80 for a 20M AAV vs the Yankees 15M AAV. The Jays have more flexibility before hitting the salary cap (I know it’s technically called a tax), so they could offer a higher AAV, where they Yankees are trying to reduce payroll below the tax threshold, so a lower AAV is important. In the end, he wanted to return to the Yankees and the Yankees wanted him to return. In that scenario, it was simply a question of how they were going to structure the contract to counter other offers he might have received. This is how they did. it — longer deal, lower AAV.
They offered a reported 4/76. They gave him the best offer, he wanted to go to the Yankees. Missing out on him is an incredibly easy pill to swallow if it meant they were going to have to commit 6 or 7 years on him.
…and if that was the second best offer, then the Yankees simply could have matched it and he would have returned since that was his preference. That means stretching it to 6 years for a 15M AAV was the Yankees preference. The lower AAV is more important to them. They’re not worried about having to eat the last year of his contract (and I suspect they won’t have to). That will happen not on the upcoming CBA, but the CBA after that. The luxury tax tiers will likely be much higher, and that’s a more important factor for the Yankees.
Ya that’s part of my point. Toronto probably gave him the most valuable offer, but it’s clear he would’ve had to be blown out of the water to leave NY. I don’t blame them for not budging and I don’t blame Lemahieu for wanting to return. I was never convinced that they were being used as anything other than leverage, unless NY was really being disrespectful in their offer.
Because for some players, its about winning – the Jays don’t do that.
The Yankees finished one game ahead of the Blue Jays a year before they were supposed to compete…
Nice looks like DJs a team player took more years to have a smaller aav to help at least have some leftover to make a decent 1y 10-12m to Tanaka or a 1y 8-9m prove it for Kluber. I personally still feel like cash will make a move by deadline, whether it be a bullpen piece like Otto/Green or a back end rotation piece like Monty or a position player plus prospects not named Dominguez. Especially seeing what got Darvish. The trade from Kluber to Cle (delino deshields and a young very hard throwing bp piece), with Rona still out there affecting teams books. Banking on German and Sevy when he gets back, is a pipe dream and I’m sure cash knows it.
wow that’s a low AAV
I remember when the Yanks first signed the guy. This same message board people were making fun of him and the signing.
Just like Bills fans when they drafted Josh Allen. And..that is why I am where I am and you all are keyboard warriors.
DJ is the man! I knew from the time I saw him playing in the minors.
Now..who is laughing. Fans crack me up.
I remember there was a poll on this website about which signing was better, Lemahieu or Lowrie.
Obviously it was a legitimate question at the time but it’s hilarious how they ended up when compared to each other.
Do you remember the results? Just curious.
As of noon EST on January 15:
Did the acquisitions make sense for the Mets and Yankees:
Yes, they were smart moves 32.9% (4,104 votes)
No, they didn’t 25.04% (3,124 votes)
Lowrie did, LeMahieu didn’t 24.49% (3,055 votes)
Lemahieu did, Lowrie didn’t 17.57% (2,192 votes)
Total Votes: 12,475
You can still look up the results if you filter it. The question was “Did the Lemahieu and Lowrie signings make sense for the Yankees and Mets”?
They were both good moves- 33 percent
Don’t make sense- 25 percent
Lowrie is a good move, Lemahieu isn’t- 24.5 percent
Lemahieu is a good move, Lowrie isn’t- 17.5 percent
Just goes to show that maybe we as fans are not smarter than professional front offices, even though some people would probably try and find a way to argue that.
At the time of the Yankees signing LeMahieu the first time Cashman sold him as being nothing more than a Utilty player, not a central figure in the lineup. When the Mets signed Lowrie it was thought he would be the regular Third Baseman coming off a nice run in Oakland. Obviously hindsight says the Yankees made out like bandits the first time around.
The interesting secondary note that comes from this is what do the Yankees do with Gleyber Torres. Urshela is solid at 3B, Voit at least right now is at 1B, so DJL will continue to man 2B so that means Torres has to stay at SS even though we know defensively the Yankees can’t be thrilled with that. Do they dangle him in trade and see what kind of package they may be able to get and sign one of the Gregorious/Simmons/Semien trio, or do they hold on to him and hope his glove improves?
Cashman has publicly-stated that he intends to keep Torres at SS. The rub on him was that he was admittedly somewhat out of shape beginning the ’20 season.
I was one of them and thought he was superfluous. Boy was I wrong.
I was one of the mets fans that thought the lowrie signing was bad. I forget the players we had at the time but the spots he played were covered multiple times over and that money needed to go to pitching or a quality 4th OF.
Also, there were some Yankee fans that were complaining that Manny Machado wasn’t the infielder they signed.
Wow. Very team friendly deal
Blue Jays fans can calm down now. They probably dodged a bullet. No chance you want Lemahieu for 6 years at $15-mil per. That’s the Yankees burden now.
Yankees are cute. Lower hit on the annual salary allowing them to grab an arm. In a couple years the fans will wish this move didn’t happen. Especially if Torres struggles defensively at SS. Can’t see the Yankees winning a WS unless they spend beyond the threshold.
Blue Jays should be thrilled-
1 more team out on Big 4 left-
Market reflecting huge askes wont be got from 30+ offensive players –
I like Springer to them now on a 4/85. I think that works for everyone but the Jays need to play hardball a little to get it there.
His market has to be less than 3 teams and I dont think any of them feels hes a “must have” including the Jays
Well Cap, let’s play the hypothetical game then.
Let’s say you are correct with Springer, whether it’s 4/85 or 4/104 that was mentioned by Hydrax. It means one of these players will need to be traded for either a pitcher or an INF (3B):
Grichuk
Gurriel
T. Hernandez
Tellez
Vlad
Vlad is not going anywhere, Tellez and Grichuk have little value, that leaves Teoscar and Gurriel. Now, Jays fans will say to keep all of them. Why? Signing Springer signals a need for upgrades at questionable spots. Leaving holes equates to a missed opportunity in 2021. Jays fans don’t want to see Teoscar or Gurriel go. I think Gurriel is the keeper. But someone has to go if Springer is signed.
Springer’s the CF for at least a year until Martin is ready.
I would say Teo in all honesty but it might be a better idea to wait on that call till the trade deadline in season which I think is going to be SUPER active this year
Lotta those guys can be platooned well and could use extra days rest. Then ofc 1 will ultimately probably be inj as well
I dont think Springer is a huge need but he is a nice fit and lb for lb for getting a pretty good deal b/c of the times we are in
I agree on Springer and I do agree on Teoscar being the trade bait. However, I also think he could be the key to a potential deal for another arm. I don’t believe Bauer is coming to Toronto. Teoscar would need to be dealt for an arm and I doubt the Jays can/should wait until the deadline to make that happen.
I mean it always depends ya know…maybe you stumble upon the fact Cincy loves Gurriel and his controlled cost so you go after Gray or Castillo…..
In trades ya cant always trade off just who you want too…..I think Tor could tread water till the TD on pitching tho and probably want to have that 5 spot semi open for all the upside guys to get a chance to breakthrough and get real Mlb inns – Sign a guy like Richards or Q for cheap is a good route as well
They could probably find a swap of Moose and Grichuk that interest Cincy as well bc of money – Think that would a nice natural switch getting the 2b/3b for OF and LH bat instead of RH bat at a pretty cheap price in prospect capital and money. Think they make great trade partners w Cincy on so many levels
Gurriel is a hefty price to pay. So is Teoscar but Gurriel does have more control and will be cheaper over the next couple years as Teoscar enjoys arbitration.
Don’t know what happened to Quintana. He was good with the ChiSox.
Moose fits the team’s need at 3B, packaging Castillo or Gray would work. If they take Grichuk it means more prospects if it’s Castillo. If they take Teoscar it’ll take probably Kirk and two prospects with one being a pitcher if it’s Castillo. But Gray might not take all that much if packaged with Moose. Something to consider.
Yea they have a lot of things that line up
#1- Jays willing to take on MONEY!!
Reds could use OF/C youngsters that Tor has –
Gray + Moose for Grichuk + C porpsect+ Of prospect+ 1 more prospect (prolly SP) in the 20’s should easily do it and should be something Tor would want to do
For Gray and Moose if Grichuk is involved? Kirk for sure, probably Dasan Brown or Robertson, and Van Eyk or Kloffenstein is most likely enough to make it an even deal. Or just Grichuk, Kirk and Hiraldo could get it done.
@Cap With a limited supply, you only need a perceived market of 2 teams to keep prices high.
Lemahieu is making about $3M more a year than Randall Grichuk. I know which of them I’d rather have a on a long term contract. $15M/year is what a league average major league free agent should expect to make… not one of the league’s best hitters who’s still in his early 30s.
the dodgers would have been a inch closer to the padres if they got dj but dang
good for yanks 4+ years on a guy who is 32
3/4 years if contract will be bad for sure
stanton an dj on mid 30 for too much money
6 years for a 32 year old Second Baseman?
Is Brian Cashman really George Costanza? He can’t do anything to get fired
Obviously the length of the deal is to have a lower AAV and stay under the luxury tax. It’s not rocket science.
15 million per seems like a steal. Seems like they got a buy 4 get 2 free deal at the supermarket.
Hahaha I get that deal every time with milk.
6 for the price of 4. The last 3 always turn bad and smelly though.
I should stick to buying the 2….
I could very well be alone in thinking this but DJ, who went to Brother Rice HS here, got robbed. Really, $15 per season? Led the NL & AL in hitting.
I don’t think so. Its actually pretty mutually good. He is 32 years old and has had his best production the last few years rather than his salad days.
6 years is a lot for being 32 but the deal isn’t that bad considering it’s 15 million a year and he has produced. Even if he declines slightly, if he maintains production the deal is good.
Still think the Cole deal was far worse than this one and will come back to bite them.
Love watching the Yankees buy their way and getting stuck in big contracts while the Rays succeed on the lowest payroll. As a Sox fan, I know how bad big contracts come to bite you.
Idk how you can say that the Cole deal was bad when he hasn’t been bad yet.
It was a seven year contract. He’s bound to decline. Very few pitchers these days string 6 to 8 great years. Unless you’re Kershaw. Even Verlander declined a couple years. That being said, check the stats- i belive Cole’s FIP was pretty high in 2020.
I think some people panning this deal are looking at it the wrong way. Yes, it’s a long commitment, but many expected him to get $22-$23M AAV, so you hit $90M in 4 years. This allows them to sign or trade for a pitcher. Yes, the last 2-3 years of this deal, DJLM will probably suck, but they’re getting 6 years of him for the cost of 4 and will be able to address their biggest need. I don’t like the Yankees, but this move makes a lot of sense for them.
Yeah exactly I mean if anything this is good for the Yankees. DJLM is worth probably 5/90 so it seems like they got a free year? And on the off chance he’s still producing at 38 y/o, that’s great too.
I’m looking at this as a 4-year deal. If he’s terrible or injured the last two years, the Yankees can collect insurance (if any) or DFA him. DJL would actually earn more personally by only accepting 4 years at $90M so it’s obvious he made a concession for the team.
Agreed, And not saying it will actually be paid this way, but if you conceptualize it as something like 24+20+18+14+8+6 it reflects his current perceived value and accounts for potential age related decline and seems pretty reasonable to me.
@Oddvark, that payment schedule would also be appealing to him because of time value of money.
I really don’t understand all these negative comments about the deal being 6 years. Of course nobody wants a guy at his age for 6 yrs, but he’s easily been worth a $30 million a yr player the last few yrs. If he’s great the first couple years he’ll more than earn this contract regardless of the last couple yrs on the deal. The length of the deal actually HELPED the Yankees otherwise they’d have to pay much more per yr on a shorter deal. They now can sign some pitching.
The six years do suck in my opinion, but the Yankees are probably going to be in a bad spot in five or six years anyways due to the Stanton and Cole contracts. If they can squeeze a World Series or two out of the roster before then, it’ll be worth it.
Flags fly forever. That said, their best bet, especially with the current market situation, might be to sign everyone willing to a one-year deal. They’ll blow past the CBT, but could shed a bunch of salary after the season and the players will have the ability to make more money in a better economy. They’d also strike before the Blue Jays have fully realized their potential and the Rays’ excellent farm system begins paying dividends. It wouldn’t be a cakewalk through the AL, but it might be their best shot in the near future.
It’s fine in 2021. Even 2022. 2023 and beyond not so much. In 2025 the Yanks will have $36-mil of Cole, whatever the hit is for Stanton, about $10-‘ish for Hicks and another $15-mil for DJL.
They added the 6th year because I believe the Marlins eat $10-mil of Stanton’s contract beginning 2026 onward.
I don’t think that he’s worth close to $30mm. He’s had 2 and 1/3 elite seasons and all in very hitter friendly parks. His home/away ops spread is 0.290 better at home as a Yankee. He has only had one season above 0.800 ops in away games in his career. He’s 32. For all those reasons a lot of teams passed on him after initial interest. Not because he’s not a good player but rather because they don’t think he’s worth as much as the Yankees are paying him. Yankees are a great fit for him. As long as he keeps raking at Yankee Stadium it works.
Bad comments fall in two camps:
1) The math challenged. These can either be Yankee fans or non-Yankee fans. They’re immediately more concerned about years 5 and 6, ignoring that paying the deal over 6 years is better than paying it over 4 years. Lowers the total cost and provides them with additional flexibility in the short run. If LeMahieu collapses at the end? They cut him. They’re already ahead after year four. Oh, his style of hitting and positional versatility means he has a high likelihood of finishing out the deal. The Yankees will have purchased those two years at low cost as they are averaged over the six years.
2) It’s the Yankees. No matter what deal is signed, fans of other teams, particularly the Red Sox and Mets, will declare it a bad deal no matter what. If you’re a Yankee fan, those are the ones you get to enjoy the most.
I hear the contract also comes with a Lark scooter in years 5 & 6 so DJ can get around the bases easier.
How’s Chris Sale and his contract extension working out so far?
How about Gerrit Cole?
An overreach by the Yankees. The six years will start hurting them in 2023. I understand trying to stay under the luxury tax, but those last 4 years ($60M) are gonna hurt.
Maybe, but if he can give them a couple years like 2019 at the front end, he’ll have provided enough value to justify the entire contract.
I suppose so; it’s not my money. But I watched him play in Colorado and there’s no question he’s playing above his head—but good for him!
It’s more like $80M/4, plus a $10M/2. It helps to defer some of the salary, so that’s useful.
I mostly just question the fit, since neither he nor Gleyber can play SS.
Torres has the skills and arm for SS, but he botches simple plays. 2020 was the first year he was given the full-time SS role, so I don’t see the Yankees pulling the plug on him based on the just completed 60-game pandemic season, one in which by his own admission he was injured and also not in top physical shape coming out of Summer Camp. They’ll give him a full regular season. If he doesn’t improve, they’ll shift him back to 2B, or they’ll move him to 3B. I actually believe 3B would be his best position since it’s a reaction position, he has the arm for it, and the 3B’man now also at times has to cover SS and 2B due to shifts. If the Yankees sign one of the SS’s next year, LeMahieu can simply move into the role he was originally signed for, which is a multi-positional player. Or, they can trade Urshela or Voit. LeMahieu’s versatility is a strength which I still don’t believe is properly valued when constructing rosters.
Maybe if the Yankees were the Royals. DJLM’s contract to the Yankees is like a hat on a camel…they won’t even notice.
Hard to see this as anything but a win for the Yankees. If they had signed LeMahieu to a 4/90, no one would have blinked an eye. That was the general target range, with many experts figuring he’d land a deal similar to what Donaldson did the prior year. So the Yankees basically signed him for $90M, but they get the advantage of spreading the payments over six years instead of four, while lowering their payroll AAV so they can add other players. They can flat out cut him in years 5 and 6 and still come out ahead. A win. Period.
Second, this is the first contract where I see some evidence of a depressed market. In a normal offseason, LeMahieu likely gets his $90M, but over a four year period. Stretching it over six years reduces the overall value due to inflation, and of course prevents him from making additional money in years 5 and 6. What does that mean for the Bauer, Realmuto and Springer markets?
With LeMahieu locked in, and arbitration numbers exchanged today, the Yankees now know how much money they have to work with. I’d expect an additional deal or two to be announced over the weekend or early next week.
Last, LeMahieu signing means any free agent on hold to see if the Yankees might step in can now move on, and teams negotiating with them also know the Yankees are out of play. It should free up the overall market. My guess is the Blue Jays will land one of the big names.
love that he is coming back. However, WTF is wrong with the Yankees acting like the Mets of old. 6 years for a guy closing in on 33 b/c of AAV? are you kidding me.
Just pay him the 85 over 4 and move on- you guys are worth $4 billion. In 5 years from now we will all be hearing about the payroll having no flexibility when they will be committed to 70 mil for just 4 players in dj, hicks, cole and stanton.
Plus they still have one WS caliber SP, no SS… and question marks on how much the others will demand.
what’s the plan? welcome back DJ!
First of all they were trying to not pay as much per year so they could avoid the luxury tax. Plus, he’s one of the best hitters in baseball right now. He won’t all of a sudden fall off a cliff in hitting stats
Great news for Toronto- This probably brings down the price on Springer JtR Ozuna and Bauer
Think Dave finds a way to bring back JTR – Ill say 5/105
Springer- Blue Jays 4/85
No feel on Bauer whatsoever but I dont see him breaking the bank now
Ozuna – No clue, I think Atl would rather find someone that can play 3b/Lf – A wild card team like Kc would be fun but probably too redundant w Soler
Highly doubt this affects the market for other hitters. When Trout signed his extension with the Angels, that didn’t become the AAV ceiling. Everyone knows he signed for a discount. Likewise, we all know DJLM could have gotten near this amount over just a 4-yr deal and picked this one instead. Springer’s not going to look at this and think, “Boy, I guess my value is only $20M/yr; by golly, I thought it was closer to $28-$30M.”
Oh I agree Springer wont but the ones giving away the money….well
So the Q becomes do you think Springer beats my 4/85 ?
I surely dont think Springer is worth 28 AAV, now if you got a bunch of interest (there isnt) you might overpay……but since there isnt I think 4/85 is the right price no matter what Springer “thinks” ….Whats your contract look like? And what teams are bidding each other up here to raise the price to that level?
Yes, I think Springer beats that and signs for $25M AAV. My prediction: Blue Jays get him for 4/$104M with a 5th yr option at $21M. So, I can agree that he won’t get what he thinks he’s worth (which is about fair in a normal economy, honestly), but I think he gets $25-$26M AAV.
My non Covid fair to both party non bias no overpay scenario would be exactly a 4/100 5th yr option for 20 w 5 mill buyout so exactly your 4/105
W Covid, and so few suitors I feel its my job as (Tor GM) to try and rob Springer as much as I can – 4/88 maybe with a 5th yr option for 20 or 7 mill buyout giving him 95 guaranteed would be my top offer today- Im comfortable with my Pivots and am not crossing that line- I prefer a hardball in at 4/85 no options in chance theres no offers out there even close to that. Idont view Springer as a must but he does fit nice, Id try and swing that general notion across in negotiations as well
Kluber is next. Too early to give up on Gleber and the Yanks have 4 shortstops in the top 30 prospects. If he fizzles, there is some depth, especially in a year or so.
Collect talent. They can always move to other positions or in trades. No one is blocked.
Good call
Good thing the Yankees are getting their way. Wouldn’t be a Friday otherwise.
Great deal for Yanks
My note on this- * Teams are getting really unique/innovative in these new contracts (Liams 4th year etc)
Opens up a lot more potential fits between players-teams-time arcs to go down. They are a lot more fun for the fans as well. Small W for a sport greatly in need of anything in the green
Yankees can’t win there are those here on the site that was stating the Yankees can’t afford to lose DJ pay him what he wants now he gets a 6 year deal and people are all up and arms. Look at the end of the day tacking on the extra years lowered his annual while at the same time helping the Yankees to try and add on to this team this year.
HOwever anyone wants to slice it this was actually a Great move for the Yankees and obviously goes to show how much DJ loved playing in NYC to give them a discount yes a discount because if you recall the Yankees got him for 2years/$24 million and basically now he is getting a $3million dollar raise for all he has accomplished he could have commanded more. Now due to the current economic situation it worked in the Yankees favor.
Here is another tidbit Liam Hendriks was just signed for 4 years/$54 million with the first Three years receiving $39 million so in the end who you think got a better bargain for their bang?
I think you meant “bang for their bargain,” didn’t you?
I was wrong. I thought the Yankees were lowballing DJ because Hal really didn’t want to pay for him. But DJ must’ve been really serious about wanting to stay a Yankee, agreeing to a team-friendly AAV of $15M.
As of now, they’re a weaker team on paper than they were last year unless and until they strengthen the pitching staff. I hope that settling with LeMahieu gets some faster action in gear on the pitching front.
Tanaka time. Paxton push. Odorizzi i
Onboarding. Bauer’s a budget blower.
Wow Yankees actually did a below market contract. A+ signing. Love it.
Ok, now can we fire Ross Atkins??
This is getting ridiculous at this point.
That’s Shapiro buddy not going to happen.
This didn’t age well.
I can get banned.permanently for saying what I think about Al Avila and Chris ILLICH right that now.
Rodney Dangerfield rates better.
Ridiculous amount of money as usual for a thirty plus of age player….. The Yankees love to spend it……
$15MM per year for an MVP caliber player. All the way through age 38. Well worth any backend slide. Deal.
I wonder if he should have took Torontos offer for slightly less money. I’m more bullish on the Bluejays than the Yankees, but thats because i dont trust Judge or Stanton to stay healthy. But maybe theyll be just as good of a team, we’;ll see.
That’s a good get for DJ. As much as the fans all hype this dude up… hes only produced 1 or 2 years out of 9 at a level that even warrants this 6/90. Last years shortened season he could have ended the year like previous ones… above average overall, nothing otherwordly.
That’s a funny comment coming from a fan of the team that paid Bryce Harper all that money. How’s that working out for you guys?
There’s something to be said for seeing a guy play every day.
And here I was thinking that LeMahieu left a lot of money on the table……
He was 4th in MVP voting in 2019. He’s has been the Yankees best player the last two years.
Has anyone mentioned Al Avila and Chris Illich stink yet?
I think 6/$90M is a deal for the Yankees. He will outperform Stanton over the next 6 years at half Stanton’s salary. He might not be as productive the last 2 years of the deal but he should make up for that the next 4 years.
The losers are the other 29 teams not willing to step up for this guy.
If I were the Yankees I might look into Kolten Wong. He plays a gold glove caliber. One of the infielders is bound to get hurt. Left handed bat as well.