Yankees sign Lemahieu

[jacksonianmarch]

2 years $24 mil. I’m really confused here unless Andujar is headed to 1b or if we have a trade brewing

[jacksonianmarch]

Apparently he is gonna be our Neil Walker. I like Lemahieu’s bat. He’s a high average kind of hitter with some pop. He’s usually been a plus BABIP guy until this past season when he was right where everyone thinks it should always be (near .300). He’s not a big walk guy, good K rate, plays good defense. I wonder if this is a sign that we aren’t gonna get Machado and Lemahieu is the Andujar insurance we need in case he continues to s*** the bed defensively

[BillyWilliams]

Apparently he is gonna be our Neil Walker. I like Lemahieu’s bat. He’s a high average kind of hitter with some pop. He’s usually been a plus BABIP guy until this past season when he was right where everyone thinks it should always be (near .300). He’s not a big walk guy, good K rate, plays good defense. I wonder if this is a sign that we aren’t gonna get Machado and Lemahieu is the Andujar insurance we need in case he continues to s*** the bed defensively

 

According to Jack Curry he will see time at 1st, 2nd and 3rd base.

 

http://bronxpinstripes.com/news-rumors/yankees-agree-to-two-year-deal-with-dj-lemahieu/?fbclid=IwAR1CuXI1gONg8SQFl0sQboVVtXI9RXqrEv1On2dAyEIdKAGiJ619QfRba80

[jacksonianmarch]

This is likely our Machado consolation prize.

[BillyWilliams]

This is likely our Machado consolation prize.

 

Yes, I assume that they have decided what machado wants is not a fit.

 

Can't say I'm really upset about this. While he's a fantastic player entering his prime, I wasn't really looking forward to a 10yr commitment to him. Maybe if we didn't have the Stanton contract on the books it would be more feasible. I really wish we would have signed jd martinez for DH instead of trading for Stanton. Would have kept his bat out of the sox's hands and been a great add for us at a lot shorther commitment which would have given us more flexibility moving forward.

[notin]

Besides no Machado, it could mean one of three things

 

1. The Yankees gave up on Tulowitzki already.

2. The Yankees don’t anticipate Gregorius coming back as soon as originally thought (which is the least likely).

3. The Yankees are not so wild about Bird/Voit at first. LeMahieu is like 6’5” and athletic enough that the new position shouldn’t be an issue...

 

I think it’s a combo of 1 and 3...

[moonslav59]

Besides no Machado, it could mean one of three things

 

1. The Yankees gave up on Tulowitzki already.

2. The Yankees don’t anticipate Gregorius coming back as soon as originally thought (which is the least likely).

3. The Yankees are not so wild about Bird/Voit at first. LeMahieu is like 6’5” and athletic enough that the new position shouldn’t be an issue...

 

I think it’s a combo of 1 and 3...

 

I think 3 is most likely with 2 as an insurance policy.

[dgalehouse]

I can hear Machado cursing from here .

[Bellhorn04]

Besides no Machado, it could mean one of three things

 

1. The Yankees gave up on Tulowitzki already.

2. The Yankees don’t anticipate Gregorius coming back as soon as originally thought (which is the least likely).

3. The Yankees are not so wild about Bird/Voit at first. LeMahieu is like 6’5” and athletic enough that the new position shouldn’t be an issue...

 

I think it’s a combo of 1 and 3...

 

Why would they give up on Tulowitzki already?

[notin]

Why would they give up on Tulowitzki already?

 

 

Same reason Toronto did?

[Bellhorn04]

Same reason Toronto did?

 

It's a little different. The Yankees signed him for minimum wage about a week ago. What would have happened since then? Give me some logic here.

[moonslav59]

It's a little different. The Yankees signed him for minimum wage about a week ago. What would have happened since then? Give me some logic here.

 

Agreed.

 

Tulo is still in the plans, at least and until Didi returns.

[Northern Star]

It's a little different. The Yankees signed him for minimum wage about a week ago. What would have happened since then? Give me some logic here.

 

Yeah, I'm with you on this one. Unless Tulo's arm just literally fell off or something...

[notin]

It's a little different. The Yankees signed him for minimum wage about a week ago. What would have happened since then? Give me some logic here.

 

 

Well, they signed LaMahieu for one. And at a bargain price.

 

They’ll probably give Tulowitzki a shot at making the team, but he went from starting shortstop to utility infielder today...

[moonslav59]

Well, they signed LaMahieu for one. And at a bargain price.

 

They’ll probably give Tulowitzki a shot at making the team, but he went from starting shortstop to utility infielder today...

 

Or, Voit/Bird went to back-up at 1B or AAA.

[jacksonianmarch]

From what I can tell, Lemahieu will begin the year as Tulo insurance and by the end of the year will be Andujar/1b insurance. Park adjusted factors peg him as a minus offensive player on the whole, even though his slash lines aren’t bad for a middle infielder. I didn’t see position adjusted numbers for 2b or SS. I’d assume he’s a plus offensively at those spots. But he’s also a superior defender with gold glove type defensive metrics. He’s also one of the best opposite field hitters in baseball. Now interesting with this kid is his approach. He hit over .300 for three seasons with little pop based mostly on his ground ball tendencies. He clearly tried to alter his approach last year which led to his biggest HR output, but an overall drop in his production. With how powerful this team is, I’m entirely fine if Lemahieu goes back to being a .310 hitter with 6 bombs. We don’t need .270 with 15HR as much as I’d like to see contact and hits. Our struggles as a team we’re striking out with guys on base. Having someone in the lineup who makes contact and gets hits will be a welcome alteration

[Kimmi]

Same reason Toronto did?

 

It's not that they have given up on Tulo, it's that they didn't have much confidence in him to begin with.

 

Depth and insurance.

[notin]

From what I can tell, Lemahieu will begin the year as Tulo insurance and by the end of the year will be Andujar/1b insurance. Park adjusted factors peg him as a minus offensive player on the whole, even though his slash lines aren’t bad for a middle infielder. I didn’t see position adjusted numbers for 2b or SS. I’d assume he’s a plus offensively at those spots. But he’s also a superior defender with gold glove type defensive metrics. He’s also one of the best opposite field hitters in baseball. Now interesting with this kid is his approach. He hit over .300 for three seasons with little pop based mostly on his ground ball tendencies. He clearly tried to alter his approach last year which led to his biggest HR output, but an overall drop in his production. With how powerful this team is, I’m entirely fine if Lemahieu goes back to being a .310 hitter with 6 bombs. We don’t need .270 with 15HR as much as I’d like to see contact and hits. Our struggles as a team we’re striking out with guys on base. Having someone in the lineup who makes contact and gets hits will be a welcome alteration

 

So the Yankees are paying him $12mill to backup a minimum wage player released by another team?

 

LeMahieu is an excellent defensive 2b, probably the best on the Yankeees. At best, he’s a good lead off hitter. At worst a Gold Glove defender batting ninth and hitting respectably.

 

I also don’t think LeMahieu agreed to any contract where he was the utility infielder. He could have gotten a starting gig someplace...

[Bellhorn04]

Tulo's dreams of being an everyday shortstop again certainly look a little fuzzy LOL

[notin]

It's not that they have given up on Tulo, it's that they didn't have much confidence in him to begin with.

 

Depth and insurance.

 

He’s a worthwhile gamble because he can be released in spring training and cost the Yankees nothing more than airfare to Florida and a few nights hotel stay.

 

And if all their infielders get thru Spring Training without injury, I will be VERY surprised if he is still on that team on opening day...

[notin]

Tulo's dreams of being an everyday shortstop again certainly look a little fuzzy LOL

 

At this point, his chances are only slightly better than mine...

[jacksonianmarch]

He’s Tulo insurance because Tulo hasn’t been healthy for two seasons and even when he was healthy before that, he was never really healthy enough to be counted on, especially after he turned 30. Lemahieu is probably going to start very regularly between all 4 infield positions.

[Bellhorn04]

He’s Tulo insurance because Tulo hasn’t been healthy for two seasons and even when he was healthy before that, he was never really healthy enough to be counted on, especially after he turned 30. Lemahieu is probably going to start very regularly between all 4 infield positions.

 

Aaron will be having some fun!

[notin]

Aaron will be having some fun!

 

 

The easiest solution is to bench/cut Tulowitzki...

[jacksonianmarch]

No, that isn't the easiest solution. The easiest solution is to take everyone to camp and see how they look. If Tulo looks good, then wonderful. Run with him. If he looks like a 34 yr old shortstop coming off heel surgeries and runs like a dad, then cut him. His last healthy season was in 2016 and while his offense was pretty much average, his defense was stellar and his WAR was 3. If he hits .254 and swats 24 bombs, then he will be very useful. If he hits .240 with no power and no lateral quickness then he is done.

 

Aaron has a tough job per se, but it's more an embarrassment of riches. Our redundancy is great now. The one thing we did not address and I really thought this was a position of need, was our vulnerability against power righties. We returned Gardner, who is 35, and added Lemahieu, who doesn't hit righties well. This was one of the reasons why we did not beat the sox. Once Porcello and Eovaldi touched the rubber, we couldn't hit for s***. But look at our positional depth

 

C- Sanchez, Romine, Higashioka- if Sanchez is back to 2017 Sanchez, then he will dominate this position and the other two will spell him maybe 35 games in 2019

1B- Voit, Bird, Lemahieu, Andujar- Many options, one will stick

2B- Torres, Lemahieu, Tulowitzki (after Didi returns)

SS- Tulowitzki, Didi (May-June), Lemahieu, Torres

3B- Andujar, Lemahieu, Torres, Tulo

LF- Gardner, Stanton, Judge, Frasier, Ellsbury

CF- Hicks, Judge, Frasier, Ellsbury, Gardner

RF- Judge, Stanton, Frasier, Ellsbury

 

Admittedly, I don't think anyone will see Ellsbury this year, nor do I want to see him, but right now he is depth. The infield options are many.

[BillyWilliams]

No, that isn't the easiest solution. The easiest solution is to take everyone to camp and see how they look. If Tulo looks good, then wonderful. Run with him. If he looks like a 34 yr old shortstop coming off heel surgeries and runs like a dad, then cut him. His last healthy season was in 2016 and while his offense was pretty much average, his defense was stellar and his WAR was 3. If he hits .254 and swats 24 bombs, then he will be very useful. If he hits .240 with no power and no lateral quickness then he is done.

 

Aaron has a tough job per se, but it's more an embarrassment of riches. Our redundancy is great now. The one thing we did not address and I really thought this was a position of need, was our vulnerability against power righties. We returned Gardner, who is 35, and added Lemahieu, who doesn't hit righties well. This was one of the reasons why we did not beat the sox. Once Porcello and Eovaldi touched the rubber, we couldn't hit for s***. But look at our positional depth

 

C- Sanchez, Romine, Higashioka- if Sanchez is back to 2017 Sanchez, then he will dominate this position and the other two will spell him maybe 35 games in 2019

1B- Voit, Bird, Lemahieu, Andujar- Many options, one will stick

2B- Torres, Lemahieu, Tulowitzki (after Didi returns)

SS- Tulowitzki, Didi (May-June), Lemahieu, Torres

3B- Andujar, Lemahieu, Torres, Tulo

LF- Gardner, Stanton, Judge, Frasier, Ellsbury

CF- Hicks, Judge, Frasier, Ellsbury, Gardner

RF- Judge, Stanton, Frasier, Ellsbury

 

Admittedly, I don't think anyone will see Ellsbury this year, nor do I want to see him, but right now he is depth. The infield options are many.

 

Not to mention that Tulo is only costing the league minimum, no need to rush to cut him. Let's see if he surprises first.

[jacksonianmarch]

Exactly. We have Tulo by the balls right now. He cannot up and retire without forfeiting the two big contract years. He’s on league minimum for this year. He’s gonna do what we tell him to do, and that very well may be to go home if he cannot play anymore

[jacksonianmarch]

The more I read into this move, the more I think this move is about 2020. We identified a guy we could get rather cheaply who has a good hit tool and is developing a bit of a power stroke who hits the ball the other way. His offensive profile fits our ball club well as aside from Andujar, we have guys who K a ton. His contact approach will fit well here. He’s also an elite defender. After 2019, Tulo will move on and we’ll know more about Andujar’s ability to stick at 3b. The Yanks will have an FA replacement on the market in Rendon or Arenado should Andujar prove he cannot play the position. If he can play the position, then Lemahieu becomes Didi insurance. He can slide to 2B, Torres moves to SS and the band keeps rolling.