Yankees: Best free agent signings of the past decade

2. DJ LeMahieu

DJ LeMahieu has given the Yankees more than they deserve.

How is this guy real life?

LeMahieu is currently in Year 2 of a two-year pact with the Yankees that will go down as one of the greatest bargains in baseball history, and the best $24 million ever spent on something other than seed money.

His first season, he never turned off, hitting .327 with 26 bombs in a near-MVP campaign. He hit .346 in a six-game ALCS, and tied Game 6 on the road with a two-run shot in the ninth inning that should’ve gone down in Yankees lore — either way, it really got Yanks fans buzzing, before reminding the Astros to get buzzing, too.

His follow-up? Oh, just a casual .400 attempt during a shortened 60-game season.

LeMahieu has long been a favorite of talent evaluator Jim Hendry, and the Yanks should thank their lucky stars every day that the former batting champ has left Coors Field behind and prospered further.

Remember the 2019 offseason, when whiny Yankees fans wasted three months of energy tracking Manny Machado’s moods and crying about privilege when they spotted him taking BP in a White Sox hat? Now, we have LMHU — and out-bid the Rays to receive him, for what it’s worth — and in just over a year, he’s reset the entire methodology of this lineup. He’s done more than enough to already rank near the top of the pile here.

Hopefully, his next deal makes our future edition of this list, minus all the “bargain” talk. The Machine’s going to be ingesting dollar bills all offseason long.

And, speaking of someone who’s already redefined the roster after a limited time…