Yankees need to bring back LeMahieu

DJ LeMahieu is a nobrainer. Arguably the Yankees MVP the last two seasons, they should do anything they can to make sure the versatile infielder and batting champion is back in pinstripes in 2021. That includes making him a qualifying offer.

The other two options, James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka, are closer calls. The Yankees’ decision on them will not be as clear cut and actually will be telling about the organization’s financial intentions heading into next season.

With the World Series beginning on Tuesday night and the Yankees yet again home watching, it’s time for GM Brian Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner to figure out how they plan to end an 11-year World Series drought. Qualifying offers this year are reportedly $18.9 million for the 2021 season. Teams have until five days after the conclusion of the World Series to make qualifying offers to pending free agents who were with them the entire 2020 season and who have never had a qualifying offer made to them before in their career.

Players have 10 days to decide whether to accept or decline the offers and can have contact with other teams during that period.

In past offseasons, teams used the qualifying offers generously. It guaranteed a team that lost a free agent compensation in terms of a draft pick. As the price on the qualifying offer contracts went up, however, teams became more discriminating.

With the financial losses