As commerce rumblings surrounding star Padres outfielder Juan Soto and the Yankees look to be nearing a tipping point, there’s different important information within the Bronx as properly. Supervisor Aaron Boone introduced on the Winter Conferences this morning that veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu will line up because the workforce’s main third baseman subsequent season (link via MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch). Boone indicated yesterday that an outdoor acquisition at third base wasn’t probably, because the workforce felt lined with inside choices. In the present day’s assertion is a extra forceful declaration of that chance.
LeMahieu, 35, is getting into the fourth season of a six-year $90M contract. He’s bounced across the diamond since initially arriving in New York within the 2018-19 offseason, spending appreciable time at each infield place apart from shortstop. Third base was his main place in 2023, nevertheless, as he logged almost 600 innings there and turned in a sound defensive effort within the eyes of Defensive Runs Saved (3), Final Zone Score (3.2) and Outs Above Common (3).
The rest of the Yankees’ infield appears largely set. Anthony Rizzo will return to man first base, whereas Gleyber Torres is getting into his closing arbitration season and lined up as the first second baseman. Anthony Volpe had an up-and-down rookie season at shortstop, finally placing collectively a 20-20 season with good protection however an underwhelming .209/.283/.383 batting line on the entire. Prospect Oswald Peraza offers the Yankees some further depth at any place apart from first base, however with no clear path to a beginning function at current, he may open the season in Triple-A and be the primary line of protection within the occasion of an harm elsewhere within the infield. The flexibility supplied by each Peraza and LeMahieu would enable the Yankees to quite seamlessly cowl an absence wherever within the infield.
The 2023 season wasn’t LeMahieu’s finest on the plate — removed from it — however he nonetheless turned in a roughly common (by measure of wRC+) .243/.327/.390 batting line with 15 dwelling runs, 22 doubles and three triples. The veteran infielder walked at a powerful 10.7% clip, the second-highest mark of his profession, but additionally fanned at a career-worst 22.2%. LeMahieu didn’t develop the zone any greater than he did in seasons prior — he really improved his chase fee from 2022 to 2023 — however his contact fee on each strikes and balls off the plate dipped.
LeMahieu entered the 2023 season with a lifetime 92.7% contact fee on swings at pitches within the zone however noticed that quantity drop to 89.8% final 12 months. His contact fee on the comparatively uncommon chases off the plate was extra regarding; LeMahieu entered 2023 with a profession 76.1% contact fee on balls off the plate (together with an almost 80% mark from 2020-22) however made contact on simply 70.2% of such choices final 12 months. He remained productive towards fastballs (four-seamers and sinkers alike) however noticed his numbers towards opponents’ sliders, sweepers and cutters take a giant hit. Time will inform whether or not that’s the start of a extra alarming development or just a one-year aberration.
With regard to the rest of the offseason, LeMahieu’s formal anointment because the Yankees’ on a regular basis third baseman is of be aware. The Yankees already acquired
Alex Verdugo from the archrival Crimson Sox and are ostensibly deep in talks for the aforementioned Soto. That will represent a significant revamp of the outfield alignment, however it appears there’ll be extra continuity within the infield. Torres has been floated as a potential commerce candidate at varied factors, and Peraza’s presence may embolden the Yankees to make some type of transfer if the appropriate alternative offered itself. However Torres was additionally the workforce’s second-best hitter behind Decide this previous season, and the Yankees would certainly solely swap him out if it meant buying speedy MLB assist elsewhere (be it within the rotation, behind the plate or probably within the ’pen).