Yanks sign 2B LeMahieu to 2-year deal
Gold Glove-winning free agent second baseman D.J. LeMahieu and the Yankees have agreed to a two-year, $24 million contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press, a deal that would appear to eliminate New York as a destination for Manny Machado.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity yesterday because no agreement had been announced.
The 30-year-old LeMahieu spent the previous eight seasons with Colorado at hitter-friendly Coors Field and won the National League batting title in 2016 with a .348 average. He hit .276 last year with 15 homers and 62 RBI, and he won his second straight Gold Glove and third overall.
New York was seeking infielders in the absence of shortstop Didi Gregorius, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is not expected back until summer. The Yankees signed former Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki last week and said he will be their starting shortstop. LeMahieu likely will see time at second, third and possibly even first.
In other Yankees news, outfielder Aaron Hicks agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract that avoided arbitration and more than doubled his salary from $2,825,000.
Also, Zach Britton said preferred to be a setup man for Aroldis Chapman on the Yankees rather than close for a team less likely to win.
“I had been closer and I knew that I could do that at a high level. I felt like it wasn’t something I needed to prove myself,” Britton said after finalizing a contract that guarantees him $39 million over three seasons and could be worth $53 million for four years.
Britton said he had offers from clubs that wanted him as a closer. A two-time AllStar, he led the AL with 47 saves in 2016.
Bregman surgery
Astros third baseman Alex Bregman will be limited at the start of spring training after arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow.
The team says Dr. Thomas Mehlhoff operated yesterday in Houston and that it expects the 24-year-old will be ready to play before the season opener on March 28 at Tampa Bay.
Bregman was a first-time All-Star last year, homered in the game and was selected MVP of the American League’s win.
Lindor, Tribe agree
All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor and the Cleveland Indians have reached agreement at $10.55 million for a 2019 contract, a huge raise over the $643,200 he made last year.
The 25-year-old Lindor hit .277 with 38 home runs and 92 RBI last season for the AL Central champions.
Meanwhile, pitcher Trevor Bauer swapped salary numbers with the Indians. The 27-year-old righty, who went 12-6 with a 2.21 ERA, asked for $13 million and the team offered $11 million.
Raise for A’s Davis
Athletics slugger Khris Davis is getting a $6 million raise after leading the majors in home runs last season.
Davis reached agreement with Oakland on a one-year, $16.5 million contract to avoid salary arbitration.
The A’s also said they had agreed to one-year deals with left-hander Sean Manaea, infielders Jurickson Profar and Marcus Semien and outfielder Mark Canha.
Abreu gets $16M
Slugger Jose Abreu and the Chicago White Sox have agreed to a one-year $16 million contract, avoiding arbitration.
The White Sox also announced one-year deals with right-hander Alex Colome ($7.325 million), lefty Carlos Rodon ($4.2 million), and third baseman Yolmer Sanchez ($4.625 million).
Abreu gets a $3 million raise after making his second All-Star team. He hit .265, finishing with career lows in homers (22) and RBI (78). Abreu also missed most of the final six weeks because of a testicular torsion and an infection in his right thigh . . . .
The Texas Rangers agreed to one-year contracts with Nomar Mazara and Delino DeShields, avoiding arbitration with both outfielders.
Mazara gets $3.3 million, a big raise over the $563,560 he made last season. DeShields received a $1.4 million deal after earning $561,500 last year . . . .
The Baltimore Orioles have avoided arbitration with three players, agreeing to one-year contracts with right-handers Dylan Bundy and Mychal Givens, and infielder Jonathan Villar.