New York's Newest DJ
OK, it's a bit misleading -- but only slightly. After all, you will hear (about) him on the radio. D.J. LeMahieu wrapped up a seven-year run with the Rockies and signed Friday with the Yankees.
GM Brian Cashman's expectation is that the 2016 NL batting champion will become a Bronx version of Ben Zobrist, the versalitile super utilityman with skills more like a regular than a benchwarmer.
Taking the place of last year's top reserve Neil Walker, LeMahieu seems to fill out the roster in a way that, without trades, appears to block the chance for the Yanks to sign Manny Machado. Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner always seemed lukewarm to the idea of signing a mega-priced free agent. And the two-year, $24 million deal for the DJ pushes the Yankees up against the luxury tax threshold.
He's certainly effective insurance against a sophomore slump from Gleyber Torres or Miguel Andujar -- not to mention the inevitable injuries that every team endures.
So welcome to New York, D.J. LeMahieu: let's hope you become a favorite adopted son of the city the way so many radio DJs have been over the decades.
GM Brian Cashman's expectation is that the 2016 NL batting champion will become a Bronx version of Ben Zobrist, the versalitile super utilityman with skills more like a regular than a benchwarmer.
Taking the place of last year's top reserve Neil Walker, LeMahieu seems to fill out the roster in a way that, without trades, appears to block the chance for the Yanks to sign Manny Machado. Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner always seemed lukewarm to the idea of signing a mega-priced free agent. And the two-year, $24 million deal for the DJ pushes the Yankees up against the luxury tax threshold.
He's certainly effective insurance against a sophomore slump from Gleyber Torres or Miguel Andujar -- not to mention the inevitable injuries that every team endures.
So welcome to New York, D.J. LeMahieu: let's hope you become a favorite adopted son of the city the way so many radio DJs have been over the decades.
(My image of LeMahieu is from the Rockies/Mets game at Citi Field on July 16, 2017.)
Comments