Should New York Yankees Cut Ties With This All-Star Infielder?

Should the New York Yankees cut ties with this All-Star infielder?

It has been made clear at the end of the 2023 campaign that the New York Yankees are looking for the next great players to come out of the minor leagues, with five players under 24-years-old seeing significant time in the final stretch of the year. 

With some experience under their belts, the hope for general manager Brian Cashman is that he has some core pieces for the future developing.

​However, that does mean that some of the experienced vets who have made playoff runs with the Yankees in the past will be forced out by the new wave. We have already seen players like Josh Donaldson and Harrison Bader find new homes after being waived by the Yankees, which begs the question: Who is next on the chopping block for this wildly underachieving New York team?

One player that will certainly be on the list of candidates is 35-year-old infielder DJ LeMahieu.

The five-year Yankee arrived from Colorado in 2019 after winning two Gold Glove awards with the Rockies in 2017-18. Since then, LeMahieu has been one of the most dependable players on the roster year-in and year-out, starting with a career season in his first campaign with New York (26 HR, 102 RBI, .327/.375/.518 slash line).

​LeMahieu followed that up with a strong Covid-shortened 2020 season, slashing .364/.421/.590 with a 1.011 OPS, 10 home runs and 27 RBIs in 50 games. Cashman had seen everything he needed to at that point, and with LeMahieu hitting free agency in the offseason, he was given a six-year, 90 million dollar deal prior to the 2021 season.

​Since signing the deal in 2021, LeMahieu is yet to even approach that 2019 season, totaling 37 Home Runs and 146 RBI over three seasons while hitting around .250.

​There is no denying that the versatile infielder’s impact goes beyond the numbers, LeMahieu has played nearly every position in the infield for the Yankees, filling in wherever needed and excelling at each position. On top of that, the veteran, without a doubt, has experience and leadership qualities that are not easily replaced. The drop in statistics might be negated by these intangible qualities in Cashman’s eyes.

​Based on his production over the last three seasons and the 45 million still owed to him over the next three seasons, it is fair to say that LeMahieu won’t command the same return that he may have once commanded. A young prospect, a depth piece and some cash could be the package that New York would receive for the star. On the other hand, given his age and salary, there may be few suitors for LeMahieu, meaning Cashman might look at waiving the vet the same way he waived Bader and Donaldson.

​It would be a tough departure for the Yankees organization and fan base should they lose their two-time silver slugger. LeMahieu has been around for several playoff runs and has been a clutch hitter in that time. However, it is clear that his career is on the decline and his best days may be behind him. Waiving LeMahieu would be hard to justify unless there’s a plan for a replacement, but trading the 35-year-old for a substantial package to a World Series contender may be the best route for Cashman who will be looking to squeeze as much value out of this roster as he can. Only time will tell, but a big decision is coming for the Yankees front office.