Veteran Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu looks set to leave New York after being designated for assignment in a stunning decision by the team.
LeMahieu, 36, has struggled with injuries over the past few seasons in the wake of signing a huge $90million, six-year contract in the Covid-affected 2020 season.
And now it looks as though he won’t play another game for the team after Aaron Boone and GM Brian Cashman ousted him from the team on Wednesday, calling up Jorbit Vivas in his place.
The Yanks now have seven days to either trade him or place him on outright or unconditional release waivers, a decision that is complicated by his huge wages – he is due $15m this season.
It is expected that the Yankees will lose around $22m on LeMahieu’s contract after making the decision to designate him for assignment.
In a bombshell tweet from Yankees reporter Brian Hoch, it was revealed that LeMahieu had told the team he was willing to begin working at third base again, but the position had become ‘too physically demanding’ for him.
DJ LeMahieu was previously a fans’ favorite at Yankees Stadium but injuries derailed his form
He has now been designated for assignment and is unlikely to pull on the pinstripes again
Aaron Boone (left) had a meeting to inform LeMahieu, who is said to be unhappy at the decision
LeMahieu, the report continues, is said to be furious with the DFA decision after lengthy discussions were held between him and the team’s front office on Tuesday.
It would now be a surprise to see LeMahieu ever pull on the pinstripes again, and the decision comes just a day after he was transitioned to a bench role.
The infielder – who is a two-time batting champion and previous fans’ favorite – is hitting just .574 OPS from 142 plate appearances this season, and has seemed a shadow of his former self.
Back in 2020, he became the first player in modern history to win the battling title in both the American and National Leagues, first with the Rockies in 2016 and then with the Yankees in 2020.
