Yankees fans howl DFA DJ as LeMahieu’s slump echoes Hicks, Donaldson

When will the Yankees learn? For a team with such a storied history, you’d think they’d have figured out by now that sometimes, tough decisions need to be made to move forward. But here we are again, watching the Yankees cling to a veteran well past his prime, hoping against hope that he’ll magically turn things around. We saw it with Aaron Hicks, we saw it with Josh Donaldson, and now we’re seeing it with DJ LeMahieu. It’s almost as if the Yankees brass is more concerned with saving face and justifying their past decisions than actually winning games. Are they trying to squeeze every last drop of value out of these contracts, refusing to admit their mistakes? Or are they so convinced of their own genius that they believe a resurgence is just around the corner, despite all evidence to the contrary? Whatever the case may be, the result is the same: a team bogged down by underperforming veterans while younger, hungrier players rot on the bench. Maybe things will change once Anthony Rizzo and Jazz return, but at this rate, don’t hold your breath.

DJ LeMahieu’s struggles are a painful reminder of the Yankees’ loyalty to declining veterans

DJ LeMahieu’s decline this season has been nothing short of painful to watch. Once a reliable hitter and defensive stalwart, LeMahieu’s recent performance has been a far cry from what Yankees fans have come to expect. He’s hitting a dismal .189 with a .512 OPS and a 48 wRC+ over 210 plate appearances. To put that into perspective, those numbers are eerily similar to the disastrous seasons that led to the Yankees finally cutting ties with Josh Donaldson and Aaron Hicks last year. Donaldson, before his exit, had a .142 BA, .659 OPS, and 73 wRC+ in 120 plate appearances. Hicks was equally abysmal, posting a .188 BA, .524 OPS, and 47 wRC+ in 76 plate appearances. The difference? The Yankees eventually pulled the trigger on those two, but for some inexplicable reason, DJ LeMahieu is still taking at-bats.

The Yankees’ 9-5 loss to the Cleveland Guardians in extra innings on Tuesday night was just the latest in a long line of disappointments. While the team exhausted most of their bullpen and set themselves up for a difficult Wednesday with Nestor Cortes on the mound, the most glaring issue was LeMahieu’s continued struggles. He went hitless in five at-bats, made several defensive mistakes, and yet, after the game, Aaron Boone continued to express confidence in him.

Boone’s post-game comments were frustratingly predictable: “He obviously got a big hit in the Williamsport game for us. He’s shown some flashes of that. It’s been tough. It’s been rough. No question about it. He’s had moments where he’s gotten it going a little bit, but it’s been tough. I know he’s working his tail off to get it right and be a contributor. At this point, we have to keep grinding with him.”

The same way the Yankees “grinded” with Hicks and Donaldson until it was painfully clear that they were dragging the team down? The numbers don’t lie: LeMahieu is performing 52% worse than the average MLB hitter this season. His slugging percentage has plummeted, his hard-hit rate is at a career-low 37.8%, and his average exit velocity has dipped to 88.3 mph. Perhaps most concerning is his 56.1% ground ball rate, his highest since 2020, suggesting that his bat speed and power have significantly deteriorated.

And yet, Boone continues to send him out there, night after night. LeMahieu’s .059 isolated power is alarming, and his -0.5 WAR this year should be the final nail in the coffin. If Boone is going to use WAR to justify keeping Anthony Volpe in the lineup, he needs to apply the same metric to LeMahieu. One player is a net positive; the other is actively hurting the team.

It’s not as if the Yankees are without options. Oswaldo Cabrera, for example, has been left on the bench in favor of LeMahieu, despite showing far more promise at the plate and in the field. The argument that LeMahieu is a veteran leader doesn’t hold water when his on-field performance is this poor. The Yankees need to stop living in the past and start making decisions based on what’s best for the team right now. LeMahieu might have been an essential player in 2019, but that was then, and this is now.

With Jazz Chisholm’s return on the horizon, the Yankees might finally have an excuse to bench LeMahieu, but even that feels like too little, too late. If Chisholm can return from the injured list after his 10-day stint, the Yankees might find some much-needed stability at the corners. But until then, the decision to keep LeMahieu in the lineup remains baffling.

The internet calls for DJ LeMahieu’s DFA

Yankees fans are known for their passion, and they’ve never been shy about voicing their opinions when things aren’t going well. The situation with DJ LeMahieu has been no different. Across Twitter and Reddit, the consensus is clear: it’s time for the Yankees to cut their losses and move on from LeMahieu.

On Twitter, user @DJNickPapaG summed up the frustration perfectly: “Max…will it truly happen though? Will they bite the bullet and really give him the pink slip?” It’s a question that seems to be on everyone’s mind. How long will the Yankees continue to allow LeMahieu to struggle before making the tough decision?

The sentiment was echoed by @learytim, who drew a parallel to another infamous Yankees decline: “A-Rod 2016 .200/.247/.351 56 wRC+ 243 PA. It’s time.” The comparison to Alex Rodriguez’s final days as a Yankee is a stark reminder that even the most iconic players aren’t immune to the inevitable decline. For many fans, the writing is on the wall for LeMahieu, and it’s time for the Yankees to face reality.

@RakeYanks expressed a more sympathetic view, acknowledging the loyalty the Yankees have shown to LeMahieu: “The organization is showing at least they protect the players that deserve it. Begging with DJ but at this point, he himself would understands if the team decide on cutting him. He won’t turn thing around as our previous DJ.”

But not all fans are so forgiving. @firecashman didn’t hold back in his criticism: “Now look up Harper and Machado’s #’s this year. You know, the 2 guys we didn’t need b/c we had Hicks and got DJ instead.” The frustration here isn’t just with LeMahieu, but with the Yankees’ front office and their decision-making process. The missed opportunities to sign other stars like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado still sting, especially when the alternative has been an aging, underperforming LeMahieu.

The calls for LeMahieu’s DFA were loud and clear, with @wrestling_1000 stating simply: “It’s time to cut him and look somewhere else.” And @OscarStela couldn’t believe LeMahieu was still getting regular playing time: “Insane he is a everyday player.” The disbelief that LeMahieu is still in the lineup night after night is a common theme, with many fans questioning Boone’s decision-making.

The frustration boiled over with @KeepinItRealNY, who lamented, “And they won’t DFA him because he’s a good guy. They give out dumb contracts, pay the consequences and let the young guns go.”

In the end, the fans’ message is clear: it’s time for the Yankees to stop living in the past and start making decisions based on the present. DJ LeMahieu may have been a crucial part of the team’s success in the past, but those days are over. The longer the Yankees wait to make a change, the more they risk squandering their chances this season, the one guaranteed year they have with Juan Soto. What do you think? Leave your comment below!