Yankees: D.J. LeMahieu isn’t necessarily a utility player

Recent signing, D.J. LeMahieu, has started all but 24 games in his eight-year career at second base. So why do the Yankees think he’ll be an uber-utility player when he’s never before been?

Since making his major league debut in 2011 for the Chicago Cubs, new Yankees signing, D.J. LeMahieu, has played a total of 941 games, or 7772 innings.

Breaking it down by position, the two-time All-Star has manned his customary second base for 892 of those contests (7460 innings).

That leaves just 262 innings played at other spots around the diamond: 245 innings at third base, 13 innings at first base and four at shortstop.

Now I’m fully aware that the 30-year-old LeMahieu is a three-time Gold Glove winner, but that’s due to his defensive prowess at second, a position he hasn’t strayed from in the past four seasons.

Because LeMahieu was so darn good at second, having made only 38 errors in 4252 chances, for a fielding percentage of .991 and 66 Rtot, the Yankees believe his soft hands, quick feet, and accurate throwing arm will translate to him becoming a valuable utility player.

Per NJ.com:

“I was told to bring a lot of gloves, if that’s any indication,” LeMahieu said. “I think I can add a lot. You’ve got a lot of talented infielders there and we’ll kind of just see how it unfolds. But I’ll be ready to play wherever I’m needed.”

Though LeMahieu’s third base play offers only a small sample size, four errors in 69 chances for a .942 fielding percentage and a -1 Rtot leaves some doubt, should he enter the latter stages of a contest as a defensive replacement for Miguel Andujar.

Will LeMahieu man the hot corner more effectively than Andujar? Probably, but watching LeMahieu steal innings from the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up isn’t going to help Andujar’s ability or confidence.

As far as first base and shortstop are concerned, it’s a crapshoot considering his 17 innings combined at both.

With the question mark that is Troy Tulowitzki’s health — and the already proven defensive liabilities of Luke Voit and Greg Bird — were the Yankees wise to spend $24 million on a tried and true second baseman that may or may not succeed at other positions?

Advanced scouting suggests LeMahieu should be fine; however, LeMahieu sounded mildly confident, telling ESPN he’s “pretty comfortable playing multiple positions,” and should he need to play first base, he’ll “see how it unfolds.”

Roster space is vital on any team, especially one with World Series aspirations, so let’s hope LeMahieu is truly capable of filling any infield void that pops up in 2019.