Before Friday it had been a pretty quiet offseason in the Bronx. While all the noise was coming out of Queens this winter with the sale of the New York Mets to hedge fund manager Steve Cohen and the Mets signing of catcher James McCann, and acquisition of Francisco Lindor from the Cleveland Indians, New York has become quiet Mets-centric lately.
It was time for the Yankees to wake up. Time for the Yankees to remind people who they are. And do so while keeping themselves somewhat under the $210 million salary cap threshold that have stated they do not want to cross this year.
The Yankees brought back second baseman D.J. LeMahieu on what is considered a very team-friendly six-year $90 million deal, meaning New York only gets to edge out $15 million per year for a guy who hit .336 the past two years combined, and was by leaps and bounds the Yankees best hitter, and an MVP candidate in 2019.
There had been fear throughout the off-season that LeMahieu would cash in on his success in New York, but a large market for his services never materialized. COVID-19 lay waste to that as revenues dipped. Just ask George Springer and Trevor Bauer both of whom remain free agents how things are going for them. The pending 2022 CBA isn't helping free agents either.
The Dodgers and Blue Jays threatened, but in the end didn't come calling. Truth is LeMahieu never wanted to leave. He waited for the Yankees, and the Yankees waited for him.
While LeMahieu is 33-years old, and will be 38 - pushing 39 - when the deal is complete, is worth the risk because of his ability to get on base. He is ranked third in major league baseball in hard hit balls, and hit 36 homers and 43 doubles in his last two seasons combined. Without LeMahieu the Yankees are what they are a power hitting team with little finesse. LeMahieu provides the balance they need.
Meanwhile, the Bombers inked former Cleveland Indians ace, Corey Kluber to a 1-year $11 million deal. A no-risk move by the Yankees who are in desperate need of pitching. Kluber has missed a large chunk of the past two seasons due to a shoulder injury, making only 8 starts since the start of the 2019 season. At 34, Kluber is a reclamation project.
If he can be anything like the guy who went 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA and Cy Young Award in 2018, the Yankees would be ecstatic. They desperately need an arm they can rely on behind ace Gerritt Cole. There is a lingering questions of whether Mashairo Tanaka will return to the club; speculation being he is going back to Japan.
The Yankees also have guys like Luis Severino and Domingo German coming off injury and suspension. In short after Cole there are no sure things in this Bombers rotation. They need more pitching, but because of their own financial constraints they won't be in on Bauer. They instead will shop at Walmart for bargin bin pitching to get them through -- hoping they can pitch well enough while the offense goes to work. It's a gamble, but one they have to take right now.
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