Could the New York Yankees leave this struggling veteran off their postseason roster?
With other stars returning, this New York Yankees veteran might be the odd man out come October.The New York Yankees are getting healthy at the perfect time, with the postseason only a month away. However, as players return from injury, the club must make painful judgments concerning others who have been regulars on the team all season.
One of the few bright spots in Sunday’s 14-7 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals was Anthony Rizzo’s 2-for-4 effort with an RBI double and two runs scored in his first game back since June 16.
With Rizzo resuming his job as the starting first baseman, youngster Ben Rice was optioned back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after stepping in for 49 games.
The return of the three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner may signal the end of the line for a veteran who has featured in 672 games for the Yankees since 2019.
Infielder DJ LeMahieu has played 207.2 innings at first base in 2024, helping to cover the vacuum while Rizzo was out. When not playing first, LeMahieu usually covers the opposite corner infield position.
But now, with trade deadline addition Jazz Chisholm Jr., taking over full-time.
At third base, LeMahieu lacks a clear route to sustained playing time. Gleyber Torres has even secured his old spot at second base.
However, the Yankees have more pressing worries than finding out how to incorporate LeMahieu’s bat into the order. While his time in the Bronx began on a high note, receiving an All-Star nomination in 2019 and capturing the American League batting title with a.364 average in 2020, his output has dropped dramatically after signing a six-year, $90 million contract in January 2021.
The initial drop-off was gradual. His.265/.353/.368 slash line over the first two years of the contract was decent, if not nearly up to his former standards.
