The New York Yankees announced Thursday that infielder DJ LeMahieu has been released, making him a free agent and ending his seven-season tenure in the Bronx.
The four-time Gold Glove winner, three-time All-Star and two-time batting champion is scheduled to make $15 million in 2025 and 2026 as part of a six-year, $90 million contract signed in 2020. That deal runs through the 2026 season, meaning the Yankees will end up eating a little more than $20 million of it.
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On Tuesday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said LeMahieu would be relegated to a role off the bench. That was after the Yankees moved Jazz Chisholm back to second base after 28 consecutive starts at third. Boone said the decision was not LeMahieu’s and that the veteran infielder was willing to continue to be an option off the bench. But the Yankees wanted to make the move now.
“It’s been a tough couple days, some hard conversations and then ultimately coming to this decision, obviously not easy for what’s been a great player,” Boone said. “He’s done a lot of great things for this organization, but at the end, I feel like this is the right thing to do at this time.”
Rookie infielder Jorbit Vivas has been recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Injuries derailed LeMahieu’s time in New York after a successful start in the Bronx. After playing 125 and 136 games, respectively, in 2022 and 2023, he played 67 in 2024 and just 45 out of 91 games this season. Core muscle repair surgery, a broken foot, a hip impingement and numerous toe issues are among the ailments that kept him off the field.
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LeMahieu, who turns 37 on Sunday, has recorded a .266 batting average this season, with two home runs and 12 RBI.
