The New York Yankees announced on Wednesday that infielder DJ LeMahieu will be designated for assignment, likely ending his seven-season stint with the team. The Yankees now have seven days to either trade LeMahieu or place him on full or unconditional release. LeMahieu, a four-time Gold Glove winner, three-time All-Star, and two-time batting champion, is slated to earn $15 million in both 2025 and 2026 under a six-year, $90 million contract signed in 2020.
On Tuesday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone revealed that LeMahieu would be moved to a bench role. This followed the decision to start Jazz Chisholm for 28 consecutive games, initially playing him on all bases before limiting him to two. Boone emphasized that this was not LeMahieu’s choice, but the veteran infielder was prepared to accept a substitute role. However, the Yankees preferred to make a move now. Boone reflected on the difficult decision, saying, “It was a tough few days, some hard conversations, and ultimately led to this decision. He’s done a lot of great things for this organization, but in the end, I think this is right at the moment.”
In response, rookie infielder Jorvitt Vivas has been called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. LeMahieu’s time in New York has been hampered by injuries following a strong start to his tenure. After playing 125 and 136 games during the 2022 and 2023 seasons respectively, he only appeared in 67 games in 2024, participating in 45 of 91 games this season. His time on the field was limited due to several injuries, including core muscle repair surgery, a broken leg, hip collisions, and toe problems. LeMahieu, who turned 37 this past Sunday, posted a .266 batting average this season, along with two home runs and 12 RBIs.
Fan Take: This development marks the end of an era for Yankees fans as LeMahieu has been a critical contributor over the years. For baseball enthusiasts, this signals a shift in team dynamics and opens the door for fresh talent, showcasing how teams must continuously adapt to maintain competitiveness.
