If you thought the Yankees were going ride out the DJ LeMahieu contract in silence, think again — because the Bronx just got hit with a roster quake. The Bombers officially designated veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu for assignment, and yes, it’s as dramatic and messy as it sounds.
A Stunning Fall from Grace for a Former Yankees Batting Champion
LeMahieu, 36, once the toast of Yankee Stadium, is now on the chopping block just five seasons into his six-year, $90 million deal — a contract signed during the bizarre, no-fan COVID season of 2020. At the time, he was seen as the contact hitter to build around. The man had just won batting titles in both leagues — a feat nobody had pulled off in the modern era. Fans loved him. He was the quiet warrior in a lineup of noisy bats. Fast-forward to now, and he’s slashing an anemic .574 OPS over 142 plate appearances. That’s not just a slump. That’s a career on life support.
Injuries, Frustration, and a Sudden DFA
Injuries piled up. Father time caught up. And apparently, so did frustration — on both sides. According to Yankees insider Brian Hoch, LeMahieu had told the club he was open to working at third base again, but admitted the position had just become “too physically demanding.” That, right there, says a lot. Boone and Cashman apparently didn’t wait around to see if that would change. The call was made, and just like that, DJ was DFA’d in favor of 23-year-old Jorbit Vivas. Talk about changing the station mid-song.
Big Money, Few Options, and a Cold Goodbye
Now the Yankees are stuck holding the financial bag — to the tune of roughly $22 million in losses. That’s what it’ll cost to eat the rest of LeMahieu’s deal if nobody bites on a trade. And given he’s owed $15 million this year alone, the line for takers won’t be long.
What’s really wild is that one day before being cut, LeMahieu was moved into a bench role. Clearly, this wasn’t just about stats — it was about signals. And whatever was discussed in those “lengthy conversations” with the front office didn’t end in a hug. LeMahieu was reportedly furious after receiving the news.
This guy was once the rock in the Yankees’ infield. A two-time batting champ. A leader by example. But baseball’s a business — and the Yankees just reminded everyone of that in brutal fashion.
