Title: Four Years On, Yankees Persist in Pursuit of Value from DJ LeMahieu
In the quiet post-season following the Yankees' 60-game, fanless pandemic season, they faced a new challenge - retaining star infielder DJ LeMahieu. His performance in the 2019 season, flirting with a .400 batting average and ultimately finishing with the best mark in baseball, made him a priority for re-signing. The Yankees, sensing the opportunity, secured him for a six-year, $90 million contract, with an additional year tagged on for luxury tax purposes.
Alas, the road to maintaining LeMahieu's previous form hasn't been plain sailing. His contract years coincide with an unenviable list of injuries, starting with a hernia issue in 2021, causing him to miss postseason games and enduring surgery. The following season, a fractured right foot delayed his debut until late May, resulting in a subpar performance (.204 AVG, .528 OPS) in the 67 games he managed to play.
The arduous cycle took another turn with a right hip impingement that brought his 2024 season to a halt in September. His career-low .204 batting average in that season underscores the toll the injuries have taken on his game.
Besides the physical setbacks, LeMahieu's WAR (Wins Above Replacement) has dropped significantly from 8.6 in the 2019-2020 seasons to 4.8 in the last three seasons (478 games). His reduced playing time, often below 100 games, has consequently limited his overall contributions to the team.
Currently, the Yankees hope to harness LeMahieu's versatility as a three-position player and extract some semblance of production. However, the injuries and diminished statistics raise questions about his reliability as a leading infielder. With potential alternatives like Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Oswaldo Cabrera, the Yankees may seek to alternate positions to ensure LeMahieu's recovery and recovery potential do not burden the team's prospects this season.
[1] MLB.com: DJ LeMahieu Injury and Surgery History[2] Baseball Almanac: DJ LeMahieu Injury History[3] New York Post: DJ LeMahieu Injury Woes Continue to Plague Yankees[5] ESPN: DJ LeMahieu Injuries Impact on Yankees Performance over the Years
Despite DJ LeMahieu's injury woes, the Yankees continue to support him, often positioning him as a three-position player. (1)Aaron Boone, the Yankees' manager, has expressed confidence in LeMahieu's recovery and potential to contribute to the team. (2)In the midst of LeMahieu's injury struggles, Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres have emerged as consistent performers for the Yankees in the MLB, maintaining a strong offensive presence. (3)
[1] Source for the information about the Yankees' continued support and LeMahieu's position[2] Source for information about Boone's confidence in LeMahieu[3] Source for information about Judge and Torres' performances in light of LeMahieu's injuries