We’re months into the MLB offseason and reigning AL Batting Champion DJ LeMahieu is yet to sign with a team. While that wouldn’t make sense any other year, the Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on the team’s desire to spend a lot of money.
LeMahieu has been the best player in the New York Yankees over the past couple of seasons and he’s reportedly eager to come back next season. The team, however, is unwilling to meet his terms and asking price.
That’s why, according to a report by Yahoo! Sports, the sought-after star is going to meet virtually with several teams next week, including the Yankees’ lifelong rivals, the Boston Red Sox.
DJ LeMahieu Will Re-Engage Talks With Other Teams, Including Boston Red Sox
“Teams that have engaged with the LeMahieu camp say LeMahieu expects more than Josh Donaldson’s four-year, $92 million deal with the Minnesota Twins and at least on par with J.D. Martinez’s five years and $110 million with the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees, LeMahieu’s preferred club after two successful seasons in the Bronx, have not met those terms,” the report started.
“The 32-year-old LeMahieu has, therefore, asked his representatives to re-engage with teams that have previously shown the most interest, the source said, among them the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets, and to reconnect with teams that reached out early in the free agent period, including the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox and others,” it concluded.
Perhaps LeMahieu is just trying to push the Yankees and will use the Red Sox and the other teams as leverage to get the deal he wants – and deserves. Perhaps, his time in the Bronx has already come to an end. Whatever the case may be, the Yankees are making a huge mistake by lowballing him, even if he’s already 32.