DJ LeMahieu of the New York Yankees stands ready at second base in Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Petco Park in San Diego, California, October 9, 2020. /CFP
The New York Yankees are reaching a six-year, $90-million deal with their second baseman DJ LeMahieu, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Having been selected by the Chicago Cubs in the second round in 2009, LeMahieu entered the Majors League in 2011. After 10 seasons, he is already three-time All-Star, named All-MLB First Team twice, won three Gold Glove Awards, three Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards and two Silver Slugger Awards.
Last season, LeMahieu led the whole Majors League in Batting Average (.364) for the second time in his career. He's the fourth one to do that in Yankees franchise history after Mickey Mantle (.353 in 1956), Joe DiMaggio (.381 in 1939) and Lou Gehrig (.363 in 1934). The last time LeMahieu did that was in 2016 in the Colorado Rockies of the National League. That made him the second one in MLB history to win batting titles in both leagues. The other one was Hall of Famer Ed Delahanty.
LeMahieu was also third in the American League MVP voting.
DJ LeMahieu #26 of the New York Yankees hits an RBI single during the ninth inning in Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Petco Park, October 6, 2020. /CFP
Such an incredible performance gave the Yankees every reason to keep him. "If you add up the last two years in Major League Baseball, he's on the short list of short lists for being the best player in the sport. He's been that impactful. In the biggest moments, he always seems to deliver," said the team's manager Aaron Boone after the regular season.
LeMahieu expressed his love for the Yankees as well but he also made it clear he will only sign off on a satisfactory contract. When he came to Yankee Stadium three years ago, he accepted a two-year, $24-million deal. During the offseason, multiple teams including the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets reached out to LeMahieu, but he chose the Yankees in the end.
Hours after reaching the deal with LeMahieu, the Yankees agreed to a one-year, $11-million contract with two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, according to Passan. The 34-year-old can be a great help to fix the team's weak starting rotation.