Free Agents from New York
Coming off the most contrasting of seasons, DJ LeMahieu and Marcus Stroman are the New York players who received qualifying offers.
The former Rockie emerged as possibly the most indispensable Yankee during his two seasons in the Bronx, capped by becoming the first player ever to win a batting title in each league. After finishing fourth for the AL MVP a year ago, he was announced Monday night as one of the finalists for 2020. Talented, versatile and well respected in the clubhouse, LeMahieu's lone question mark centers around his age. If he was 28 or 29, he'd be in line for six or seven-year deal. But his driver's license warns GM's that DJ turns 33 next July. That's going to limit the length of his deal. But I'd still expect it to be on the big side of $20 million a year. And at least for the first couple, it's going to be worth every penny.
Stroman's 2020 line was... blank. After starting the season on the I-L with a torn calf muscle, he decided to shut it down and head home. While everything in baseball's 60-game season was a gamble, the decision made by the Long Island native was huge. Heading into free agency without the benefit of good "walk year" numbers leaves him an enigma to any suitors? Of the six players receiving QO's he might be the most liable to take it, return to the Mets and -- assuming a more normal 2021 -- build up his value for a big free agent payoff a year from now.
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