Latest DJ LeMahieu updates make Francisco Lindor trade a long shot

The DJ LeMahieu buzz is heating up, so the Yankees probably won’t trade for Francisco Lindor.

We’ve tried to tell you that a Francisco Lindor trade was likely a long shot, even before these latest updates. Such a blockbuster deal would force the New York Yankees to shuffle around their infield more than they’d likely prefer, which is why DJ LeMahieu returning to the Bronx was always the most likely option.

Everyone’s so focused on finding shortstop replacements for Gleyber Torres, but it’s being overlooked that he’s 23 years old and has yet to play a full season’s worth of games at the position. General manager Brian Cashman didn’t exactly give Torres a vote of confidence at the end of the year, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to jump ship on the experiment.

And now, with growing buzz that LeMahieu is returning to the Yankees, those who were hoping for a Lindor deal can kiss it goodbye. The Bombers won’t be giving out lucrative short-term deal and then go out and surrender top talent for Lindor, who they’ll have to pay even bigger money.

Fans have to love hearing that! While there’s no denying the excitement trade rumors (and actual trades) bring, this Yankees team is one or two bounces away from appearing in the World Series. Injuries have plagued New York for the last four seasons. Untimely struggles have contributed to their playoff exits.

Altering the identity and chemistry of the current roster really won’t do much, and that’s exactly what a trade for Lindor would do. The Yankees just need a full season in which health and (some) luck is on their side. We’ve yet to see that in quite some time, so something’s gotta give.

We’ll admit that a lot of things seemed grim in regards to a LeMahieu return. His price tag was always a concern when you consider the Yankees’ statements about their financial situation. Then came the suspension of Mets’ second baseman Robinson Cano, which felt like the door further opened for Steve Cohen to lure DJ to Queens. And the rumored five-year commitment LeMahieu is seeking just didn’t seem to line up with what the Yankees want.

But the tone has shifted and the possibility of a DJ-Yanks reunion is growing by the hour. At least that’s what it feels like.

And if DJ’s coming back, there’s no doubt the Yankees are keeping this iteration of the infield. We’re not going to rule out the possibility of Cashman re-signing DJ, trading Gleyber for pitching, then trading for Lindor and signing him to an extension, but that just seems like too much work to get done during an offseason that seems like it’ll be hanging in the balance until further notice.

The Yankees have a championship roster. They don’t need to perform an overarching offseason makeover to “fix” things. They just need to stay healthy and find a way to slightly alter their postseason fortunes.

Yankees: 3 NYY trade targets you probably haven’t considered

The New York Yankees are going to have to do something splashy and unexpected this offseason -- what about these trade targets?