MMO Free Agent Profile: DJ LeMahieu, 2B

DJ LeMahieu,second baseman

Bat / Slow: R / R
age: 32 (July 13, 1988)

Traditional statistics: 50 games, .364 / .421 / .590, 10 double, 10 HR, 27 RBI

Advanced statistics: 2.8 bWAR, 2.5 fWAR, 177 OPS +, 177 wRC +

Defense stats: 0 DRS, -1.4 UZR, -1 OAA

run down

Just two years ago, DJ LeMahieu wasn’t considered a top 20 free agent by most people in the loaded class, including players such as: Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Patrick Corbin, Michael brantley Other. But if you take LeMahieu into the same class, he will be the most popular fielder behind Harper and Machado.

There were many questions about the Yankees’ decision to sign a two-year / $ 24 million contract with LeMahieu.I already had a Bronx bomber Miguel Unduger, Gregory learned And Gleyber Torres In the infield. Where does LeMahieu play?Will he even start after Gregorius recovers from? Tommy John Surgery? Why sign a career man with a .264 / .311 / .412 slash line from his former home, Coors Field?

Well, LeMahieu answered all these questions as soon as he arrived in New York. Californian natives hit .327 / .375 / .518 in 145 games and finished fourth in the American League MVP. Mike Trout, Alex bregman,and Marcus seed.. LeMahieu became a Bronx fan favorite almost instantly.

LeMahieu followed up on its first stellar season with a better season in 2020. The sample size was small, only 50 games, but with a 32-year-old on-base percentage (0.364), he leads all qualified AL batters. .421), OPS (1.011), and wRC + (177).

LeMahieu finished third in the ALMVP vote this season, behind the White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu And Indian infielder Jose Ramirez..

Contract

The Yankees extended LeMahieu’s $ 18.9 million qualifying offer, but he inevitably declined on Wednesday. LeMahieu has just entered the best offensive season of his career and is about to earn cash this winter.

Most sites estimate that LeMahieu signs a three- to four-year contract worth about $ 22 to $ 25 million a year, which seems fair to a player like him. He is clearly exceptional in bats and can play basically all positions in the infield except for shortstops, but by July he will be 33 years old. It has to make you think that the opposite club will be afraid to give him a deal for more than 4 years.

LeMahieu has been represented by the Wasserman Media Group since the off-season of 2018.Wasserman also stands for the following name: Giancarlo Stanton, Jose Berríos, Kettle Marte, Judabish, Tyler Glasnow,and Brandon Crawford..

Recommendation

LeMahieu is a great talent and will already boost the Mets’ exceptional attacks, but this doesn’t seem to be optimal.

The Mets already have many infielders Pete Alonso, Dominic Smith, Jd Davis, Jeff McNeil, Robinson Cano, Andres Gimenez, Amedro Rosary And Luis Guillorme.. I find it unnecessary to add LeMahieu to that group and create more log jams.

If Mets exchanged a couple of those infielders for a pitcher or another necessary field, could that conversation change? I’ve acknowledged. However, Sandy Alderson and Co. should probably focus on spending free agent money on more pressing needs such as pitching, centerfields and catchers.