Forget Josh, LeMahieu Is Cashman’s Most Costly Blunder With Yankees

In early 2019, the Yankees acquired DJ LeMahieu on a two-year, $24 million contract. The move came during an offseason where fans had high hopes for big-name signings like Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. Despite initial skepticism, acquiring LeMahieu proved to be a smart move by Brian Cashman, as his performance over the next few seasons far outweighed the financial investment.

LeMahieu’s outstanding contributions led the Yankees to prioritize retaining him heading into the 2021 season. As a result, they secured his services on a six-year, $90 million contract, structuring the deal to minimize the impact on their luxury tax obligations.

At the time of his initial signing, LeMahieu had a career batting average of .298. His value to the Yankees became evident in 2019, when the team dealt with numerous injury issues. LeMahieu showed remarkable versatility, covering every infield position except shortstop. He led the team in games played with 145 appearances and narrowly missed the American League batting title, finishing second to Tim Anderson, who has since been designated for assignment.

LeMahieu’s breakthrough performance was highlighted when he hit a game-tying home run in Game 6 of the ALC Championship Series to extend the Yankees’ season. His importance was further underscored by his ability to fill crucial gaps left by Greg Bird’s limited 10-game stint and Miguel Andujar’s season-ending injury at third base earlier this year.

During the 2020 season, which was shortened by 60 games, LeMahieu’s performance was nothing short of exceptional. He maintained a near-.400 batting average through the first month before finishing the season with an impressive .364 average. This feat made him the first player in the modern era to win the American and National Leagues’ Most Valuable Hitter Award. During this remarkable stretch, LeMahieu faced 3,292 pitches, demonstrating consistent excellence with a .342 average against fastballs and comparable success against other types of pitches.

LeMahieu’s stellar performances during his age-31 and age-32 seasons with the Yankees naturally made retaining him a top priority for the organization. However, the team was aware of the risks inherent in offering long-term contracts to players his age.

The Yankees often point to LeMahieu’s performances over his first two seasons when expressing confidence in the 36-year-old’s bounce-back ability. Yet as time goes on, concerns about his recent form become harder to ignore, especially in light of the team’s struggles, which have lost 19 of 28 games since June 14.

LeMahieu recently returned from a foot injury, the latest in a series of health issues that have hampered his performance during his second contract with the Yankees. In 2021, a hernia kept him out of the playoffs. The following year, foot issues kept him out of all nine postseason games, including the Astros’ disappointing four-game sweep in the ALCS.

The bitter pill for the Yankees

Since signing a new contract with the Yankees, LeMahieu’s performance has declined significantly, with his batting average falling to .252. More recently, he has struggled even more, going hitless in his last 17 at-bats and hitting just .177. Those poor performances have begun to draw boos from the home crowd, even though they witnessed Juan Soto’s impressive four-hit game on Friday. The fan reaction follows Luis Severino’s light-hearted but pointed comment about the Yankees having only two effective hitters in Soto and Aaron Judge, made when he expressed disappointment at not pitching in the Subway Series again.

Manager Aaron Boone has pledged to give LeMahieu continued opportunities to regain his form. He has stressed the need to continue to play LeMahieu, citing both the player’s past performance and the team’s current roster limitations. Boone has argued that if LeMahieu can regain his rhythm, the Yankees will once again have a valuable hitter in their lineup.

“We’ve got to find him and keep playing him,” the manager said ahead of Saturday’s game. “He’s earned it and with the squad we have right now, we’ve got to give him that opportunity to come through. And if we do that, we’ll know we’ve got a really good hitter on our hands. He’s going to continue to get opportunities here.”

Given the limited options available, Boone’s persistence in wanting LeMahieu is understandable. The possibility of acquiring outside options, such as Alex Bregman, seems increasingly unlikely, especially given the Astros’ rapid rise to the top of the American League West.

Boone acknowledged that while LeMahieu has had some unfortunate results in recent games, he still struggles with ground balls. The manager noted that LeMahieu, despite his hitting pedigree, is working hard to get back into shape.

“He’s had some games where he’s struggled, but he continues to put the ball on the ground,” he said. “He’s battling, especially for a guy, a hitter, of his caliber, I think he’s just working to get to that point.”

The Yankees are still hoping that LeMahieu’s luck will change, resulting in a steady at-bat rather than a decline due to age and recent injuries. In the meantime, they could explore other options behind the scenes in case LeMahieu’s bad run persists.

Boone refrained from speculating on possible roster changes, saying many developments could occur over the next 10 days and the team’s situation remains fluid.

Yankees’ Predicament with LeMahieu

LeMahieu’s current struggles have become a major factor in the Yankees’ recent lack of success. While his right-handed swing can still look aesthetically pleasing at times, it has lost its former effectiveness. His exit velocity on batted balls has dropped to a career-low 87.6 mph this year, down from 91.9 in 2020 and 89.6 last year, well below the league average of 90.5 mph.

Additionally, LeMahieu’s ground ball percentage jumped to a career-high 58.8 percent, far exceeding the league average of 44.5 percent. Conversely, his line drive percentage dropped to a career-worst 21.5 percent, below the league average of 24.8 percent.

Beyond his sub-.200 batting average, LeMahieu has had a complete blackout. The player who hit 26 homers in 2019 and 15 in 136 games last year has yet to hit one this season in 142 plate appearances over 39 games. His run production has also suffered, with just 11 RBIs, which should amount to just 46 runs over a full 162-game season.

LeMahieu’s struggles were the focus of manager Aaron Boone’s pregame press conference Saturday, followed by another no-hitter in the game.

While versatile infielder Oswaldo Cabrera is expected to start at third base Sunday and could potentially get more regular starts against right-handed pitchers, that appears to be a temporary solution to a growing problem for the Yankees.

With the July 30 trade deadline approaching, general manager Brian Cashman faces the challenge of addressing a number of areas of concern, including second base, left field, starting pitcher, late-inning reliever and backup catcher, in addition to third base.

Third base currently appears to be the weak link on the team due to LeMahieu’s continued decline. After hitting .327 and .364 in his first two seasons with the Yankees, his average has steadily declined each year, falling to .268 in 2021, .261 in 2022, .243 in 2023 and now a dismal .177 this season.

LeMahieu’s struggles have lasted four straight years, marked by declining performance or injuries. He missed the first 54 games of the season with a foot injury suffered in training camp. Since his return on May 28, LeMahieu has been healthy, but his performance has been worse than ever.

It’s possible that LeMahieu’s guaranteed playing time will only extend through the end of the month. After that, the Yankees could look for a new third baseman, despite the apparent scarcity of quality options available on the market.

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