IT ALL COMES DOWN TO DJ!
What LeMahieu does in free agency will determine what Yankees do for 2021
DJ LeMahieu is driving the bus for the Yankees offseason right now. The Bombers — and their fans — have not hidden the fact that re-signing the free agent infielder is their No. 1 priority.
Brian Cashman admitted We d n e s d a y morning that LeMahieu’s decision to return to the Bronx or not will strongly impact how they proceed this winter.
“Certainly it’s, you know, driving the bus, a little bit,” the Yankees GM said on a Zoom call with reporters Wednesday morning. “We have a very strong, committed roster already and that I think is an example of the Steinbrenner family’s commitment to fielding a championship contending team. DJ LeMahieu is a big piece of that and so we’re certainly not dipping our toes in various waters until we get a feel for how declares himself. So obviously I have a middle infielder and Gleyber Torres and our strong preference is DJ LeMahieu to return and play second for us.
“So we’ve done our information grabs with various agents, we’re keeping our ears open with trade opportunities but ultimately — and I’ve shared this with (LeMahieu’s agent Joel Wolf) — our open intent is to have DJ LeMahieu come back,” Cashman said. “At the same time I got to do my job and make sure recon is done and information is shared and captured. But anything that’s come off the board prior to today, for instance, came off the board because I’m willing to wait to hopefully find a way to navigate the negotiation successfully with DJ LeMahieu.”
By this time last year, Cashman and the Yankees had wrapped
up the biggest free agent pitcher available in Gerrit Cole. With the coronavirus pandemic canceling the traditional Winter Meetings, none of the top free agents have committed to a team. While Cashman said he could not definitely say if that is because of the financial losses suffered by baseball or the uncertainty about the 2021 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he is not worried about waiting.
“I never put a timeline on it,” Cashman said.
The Yankees do not have a promise from LeMahieu to get a final chance to meet other offers, but Cashman did give his word to his agent that if any deal was on the table that would affect LeMahieu’s status with the Yankees, the team would let him know immediately.
The bottom line, Cashman feels good about the negotiations.
“The atmosphere is good, the fact that he wants to stay and we’d like to keep him,” Cashman said. “But that doesn’t guarantee anything because in free agency, you know, anything can happen. So, you know, we’ll see what happens over the course of time but our intent is to try to find a way to make it happen.”
While Cashman said he would like to add starting pitching if he can, he also said returning LeMahieu to a core of the 2020 team that went into February spring training is enough to compete for their first World Series appearance since 2009. That was before Luis Severino was lost to Tommy John surgery and they had the expectation of Domingo German and James Paxton returning in May or June from their suspension and surgery rehab respectively.
“I still think we have a really good team and... if you’re asking any of these players, they honestly think that the talent and the ability is here,” Cashman said. “They’re certainly hoping that we can reinforce it and that’s my job: is to try to do that and take another shot at this. I know there’s unfinished business, there’s things that this team and this nucleus and this group feel that they’re capable of accomplishing. And so they’re going to keep working at it, and, and we’re gonna keep working at it.”
Coming off his second career batting title and becoming the first man in modern baseball to win the title in both the American and National Leagues, LeMahieu is one of the top free agents available this winter. The Yankees aren’t shopping the rest of that market. Cashman said Wednesday that is mostly because of the strength of the returning roster.
That roster also comes with big payroll commitments.
Managing partner Hal Steinbrenner proclaimed the Yankees lost more money than any other team in baseball because of the pandemic-shortened 60-game MLB season played without fans in the Bronx. Steinbrenner already indicated in 2019 he was looking to stay under the $210 million luxury tax threshold. While the limitations that puts on him have been fodder for speculation, Cashman was confident in the financial commitment to the team.
“I’m aware of what my directives are from ownership,” Cashman said when asked about his budget. “I’m not permitted to share that publicly but based on, I think the rules and the guidelines and the basic agreement between the Players Association in Major League Baseball. But I am aware of what my directives are. And I feel confident that we will again have the highest payroll regardless.
“So our commitment to fielding a tremendous team is always still going to be intact.”