Despite struggling mightily at the plate this season, DJ LeMahieu still has the support of New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, according to MLB insider Bryan Hoch.
Boone’s support is particularly noteworthy considering just how badly LeMahieu’s season has gone so far, following a delayed debut due to injury.
He’s currently slashing .185/.280/.185 (yes, even his slugging percentage is below the Mendoza line). In 21 games this season, DJ has produced -0.4 WAR and a deeply disturbing OPS+ of 36.
So, not what anyone expected from a three-time All-Star with two batting titles to his name.
When asked about LeMahieu’s rough start to the season, which Hoch points out includes zero extra base hits to date, Boone said, “It's just something we've just got to be patient with and hope that he continues to work through and eventually clicks through, so he gets rolling and can become that presence we know he can be.”
Will Boone’s faith in LeMahieu be rewarded?
DJ has earned the faith of his manager during his time with the Yankees as he’s produced solid offensive stats while playing dependable defense. He’s amassed four Gold Gloves to go along with those two batting titles, as well as a couple of Silver Slugger awards.
However, only one of those Gold Gloves has come since LeMahieu has been in pinstripes. And his last Silver Slugger award was earned during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
Now 35 years old and seemingly in a sharp decline, DJ LeMahieu still has his manager's support.
Of course, it’s a lot easier to stick by a struggling player when he’s surrounded by a stacked lineup and on a first place team with the third best winning percentage in baseball.
After a slow start in April, Aaron Judge flipped the switch from sluggish to slugging and is now leading the majors in home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, OPS, total bases and OPS+, which sits at a staggering 207. That number is very close to his 2022 MVP campaign when he finished with an OPS+ of 210.
Judge is the clear MVP frontrunner, but he’s got some competition from teammate Juan Soto who’s in the Bronx on a one-year, $31 million contract. And he is raking with a snappy .994 OPS and a 179 OPS+. He’s also doing what he does best – get on base. Soto leads MLB in walks and on base percentage. He’d be the obvious choice for MVP if not for Judge.
Of course, outfield is not the issue for the Yankees as they’re about as solid a unit as you’ll find throughout the league. The corner infield spots, however, are a different story.
Despite the team’s success this season, they’ve received little offensive production from first and third. Now, with Anthony Rizzo on the 60-day injured list nursing a broken arm, it’s the perfect time for LeMahieu to step up and reward his skipper’s confidence in him.
But it’s the Yankees. They’re built to win every year. They sport the second highest payroll in the majors, shelling out nearly $308 million in players’ salaries. Naturally Boone hopes LeMahieu regains his form. Or maybe hot prospect Ben Rice can level up the production at first. But chances are the Bombers will address the issue at the trade deadline.
And, coincidentally, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who had previously stated that he would never play for the Yankees is now open to a trade to New York, according to Mike Axisa at CBS Sports. Anything is possible in the Bronx.
