Intermediate DJ LeMahieu and the New York Yankees are finalizing a six-year, $ 90 million contract, sources familiar with the deal told Jeff Pass from ESPN.
LeMahieu finished third in the vote for the Most Valuable Player in the American League after winning the American League batting title with an average of 364, leading the MLB during the 2020 season shortened by the pandemic, becoming in the fourth player in Yankees history to lead the majors in that category. along with Mickey Mantle (353 in 1956), Joe DiMaggio (381 in 1939) and Lou Gehrig (363 in 1934).
It was the second batting title of his career for 32-year-old LeMahieu, who won the National League crown with a 348 batting average for the Colorado Rockies in 2016. He joined the Hall member of Fame Ed Delahanty (1899, 1902) as the only players to win batting titles in both leagues.
LeMahieu had turned down a one-year, $ 18,900,000 qualified offer from the Yankees.
Although most of his playing time is in the middle, LeMahieu, who earned $ 12 million in 2020, also sees action at first and third base. He has elite contact skills and discipline on the plate, finishing the season with 10 homers, including seven for the opposing side, the best figure in MLB, 41 runs scored and 27 RBIs, and led the American League in percentage of base (421). OPS (1,011) and OPS + (177).
“If you add up the last two years in the big leagues, it’s on the shortlist of the shortlists to be the best player in the sport,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the regular season. “It’s been so shocking. In the most important moments, it always seems to come true.”
In two seasons with the Yankees, LeMahieu has a batting average of 336 to 195 games, with 36 homers, 129 RBIs, 150 RBIs and an OPS of 922. During that span, he led the greats with 80 multi-hit games. and was second with 268 hits, while recording a 384 batting average with runners in scoring position
He also challenged the perceived norm by connecting homers more often while playing for the Yankees (every 24 appearances on the plate) than with the Rockies (76).
The only setback in his 2020 season came when he landed on the 10-day injury list in August after twisting his thumb in an awkward swing. It was the second time his thumb had been injured; he also broke a small bone while he was with the Rockies in 2018.
The three-time All Stars star has a Silver Bat (2019) and three Golden Gloves (2014, 2017-18) in his name, proving his worth on the plate and in the field. In 2018, while with the Rockies, he led all Major League players in defensive regression analysis.
In 10 Major League seasons, LeMahieu, selected in the second round by the Chicago Cubs in the 2009 draft, has a batting average of 305 with 85 homers, 478 RBIs, 651 RBIs and an OPS of 787.
ESPN’s Marly Rivera contributed to this report.