The New York Yankees and DJ LeMahieu are reportedly more than $25 million apart in negotiations, raising concern if the Yankees will be able to bring back their most reliable hitter of the last two years.
But Yankees manager Aaron Boone remains hopeful.
“I think it’s no secret that he is probably our number one priority to bring back this winter,” Boone said Tuesday during a virtual call with reporters, via ESPN. “I know [GM Brian Cashman] is working on that. And hopefully, at the end of all this, DJ is a Yankee for a long time.”
LeMahieu, 32, is reportedly asking for a five-year, $100 million deal. The Yankees appear to be willing to do four years, $75 million, per multiple reports. That fifth year, which LeMahieu will be 37 going on 38, appears to be the holdup.
MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal reported over the weekend that LeMahieu plans to start engaging with other teams.
“The reality is DHJ put himself in a really strong position, even coming off the year that was 2020 and all the uncertainty,” Boone said. “The bottom line is he’s earned the right…and I’m sure understandably has a ton of interest from a lot of different teams. I respect and understand that process and know each year is a little bit different in how it unfolds.”
The Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets have all been linked to LeMahieu as well. The Yankees losing LeMahieu to a division rival or their crosstown rival would not be a good look.
Boone, however is not surprised that a deal has not been reached yet between the star infielder and the Yankees.
“I think we’ve all been around the game long enough to know every winter, every negotiation is a little bit different and takes on life of its own and has got to play itself out,” Boone said. “I’m not really surprised. It will happen in its own time.”
Boone also said he has not tried to “recruit” LeMahieu back to the Yankees, but does plan to reach out to him before Christmas to chat.
“I think he knows how I feel about him, how the organization feels about him,” Boone said. “Usually, you don’t have to have a lot of words with DJ.”
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