Cashman’s gamble gone wrong: $90M LeMahieu deal haunting Yankees

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In early 2019, the Yankees acquired DJ LeMahieu with a two-year contract valued at $24 million. This move came during an offseason when the fan base had high hopes for marquee signings like Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. Despite initial skepticism, the LeMahieu acquisition proved to be a shrewd decision by Brian Cashman, as his performance in the subsequent seasons significantly outweighed the financial investment.

LeMahieu’s exceptional contributions led the Yankees to prioritize his retention as the 2021 season approached. Consequently, they secured his services with a six-year agreement worth $90 million, structuring the deal to minimize the impact on their luxury tax obligations.

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

LeMahieu’s clutch performance was on full display when he hit a game-tying home run in Game 6 of the ALCS, prolonging the Yankees’ season. His significance 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 early in the year.

In the abbreviated 60-game season of 2020, LeMahieu’s performance was nothing short of exceptional. He maintained a batting average near .400 for the initial month before concluding the season with an impressive .364 average. This achievement made him the first player in the modern era to secure batting titles in both the American and National Leagues. During this remarkable period, LeMahieu faced 3,292 pitches, demonstrating consistent excellence with a .342 average against fastballs and comparable success against other pitch types.

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

The Yankees frequently reference LeMahieu’s initial two-year performance when expressing confidence in the now 36-year-old’s ability to rebound. Yet, as time progresses, concerns about his recent form become increasingly difficult to ignore, particularly in light of the team’s struggles, having lost 19 out of 28 games since June 14.

LeMahieu recently returned from a foot injury, the latest in a series of health setbacks that have hampered his performance during his second contract with the Yankees. In 2021, a hernia prevented him from participating in the wild-card game. The following year, foot problems sidelined him for all nine postseason games, including the disappointing four-game sweep by the Astros in the ALCS.

The bitter pill for the Yankees

Since re-signing with the Yankees, LeMahieu’s performance has notably declined, with his batting average dropping to .252. More recently, he has struggled even further, going hitless in his last 17 at-bats and batting a mere .177. These poor performances have begun to elicit boos from the home crowd, even as they witnessed Juan Soto’s impressive four-hit game on Friday. This fan reaction came on the heels of Luis Severino’s lighthearted but pointed comment about the Yankees only having two effective hitters in Soto and Aaron Judge, made while expressing his disappointment at not pitching in the “Subway Series” again.

Manager Aaron Boone is committed to giving LeMahieu continued opportunities to rediscover his form. He emphasized the need to keep playing LeMahieu, citing both the player’s past performance and the team’s current roster limitations. Boone maintained that if LeMahieu can regain his rhythm, the Yankees would once again have a valuable hitter in their lineup.

“We’ve got to find out and keep running him out there,” the manager said before Saturday’s game. “He’s earned that and with where we are right now roster-wise, we’ve got to give him that opportunity to lock in. And if we can do that, then we know we’ve got a really good hitter on our hands. He’s going to continue to get opportunities here.”

Given the limited alternatives available, Boone’s persistence with LeMahieu is understandable. The possibility of acquiring external options, such as Alex Bregman, seems increasingly unlikely, especially considering the Astros’ quick rise to the top of the AL West.

Boone acknowledged that while LeMahieu has faced some unfortunate outcomes in recent games, he’s still struggling with ground balls. The manager noted that LeMahieu, despite his pedigree as a hitter, is working hard to regain his form.

“He’s had some games where he’s hit into tough luck, but he’s still putting the ball on the ground some,” he said. “He’s battling, especially for a guy, a hitter, of his caliber, I think he’s just working to get to that spot.”

The Yankees remain hopeful that LeMahieu’s luck will turn around, translating into consistent hitting rather than a decline due to age and recent injuries. Meanwhile, they may be exploring alternative options behind the scenes in case LeMahieu’s slump persists.

Boone refrained from speculating about potential roster changes, stating that numerous developments could occur over the next 10 days and that the team’s situation remains fluid.

Yankees’ predicament over LeMahieu

LeMahieu’s ongoing struggles have become a significant factor in the Yankees’ recent lack of success. While his right-handed swing may still appear 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, falling well below the league average of 90.5 mph.

Furthermore, LeMahieu’s groundball rate has surged to a career-high 58.8 percent, far exceeding the league average of 44.5 percent. Conversely, his line-drive percentage has plummeted to a career-worst 21.5 percent, below the league average of 24.8 percent.

Beyond his sub-.200 batting average, LeMahieu has experienced a complete power outage. The player who hit 26 home runs in 2019 and 15 in 136 games last year has yet to hit one this season in 142 plate appearances across 39 games. His run production has also suffered, with only 11 RBIs, projecting to a mere 46 over a full 162-game season.

LeMahieu’s difficulties were a focal point of manager Aaron Boone’s pre-game media session on Saturday, followed by another hitless performance in the game.

While switch-hitting utility infielder Oswaldo Cabrera is expected to start at third base on Sunday and could potentially earn more regular starts against right-handed pitchers, this appears to be a temporary solution to a growing problem for the Yankees.

With the trade deadline approaching on July 30, General Manager Brian Cashman faces the challenge of addressing multiple areas of concern, including second base, left field, starting pitching, late-inning relief, and backup catcher, in addition to third base.

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

LeMahieu’s struggles have persisted for four consecutive years, marked by either declining performance or injuries. He missed the first 54 games this season due to a foot injury sustained in spring training. Since returning on May 28, LeMahieu has been healthy but performing worse than ever.

It’s possible that LeMahieu’s guaranteed playing time may only extend until the end of the month. After that, the Yankees might seek a new third baseman, despite the apparent scarcity of quality options available in the market.

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