Yankees: 3 free agent replacements for DJ LeMahieu
Look, we don’t want it either. But the Yankees could move on from DJ LeMahieu.
And in case you’re wondering, no, “Javier Baez in 2021-22” doesn’t count as a viable DJ LeMahieu replacement for the Yankees.
So many moving pieces. So much time. So much to unpack there.
Odds are the Yankees and LeMahieu will still probably come together on a reunion, as everyone from Jeff Passan to Bob Costas seems to agree that the Bronx Bombers will “step up” when the time is right.
But as of now, saying it’s “not a sure thing” is the understatement of the century. The Yankees want to participate in the free agent shortstop frenzy of 2021, and LeMahieu being this good might’ve screwed up their grand plan. The two sides are over $25 million apart in their initial asks. That’s not good.
So, in the interest of fairness, who do the Yankees turn to this offseason if LeMahieu leaves? We’re thinking exclusively one-year deals, and it’s mostly shortstops, baby. There’s almost no chance Gleyber Torres opens the season at short if they allow their incumbent second baseman to pursue other offers, though we’ve allowed for that possibility with one of our selections.
We don’t blame you if you’d rather do anything other than read this list, but these are the most realistic fits.
3. Andrelton Simmons, SS
Andrelton Simmons is the likely Yankees Opening Day shortstop if DJ LeMahieu departs.
Though the Yankees very wisely balked at sending a king’s ransom to Atlanta back in the day for Jason Heyward and Andrelton Simmons, the near-consummated deal proves the team has always had its eye on the utterly elite defender.
Simmons is unlikely to command more than a one-year deal at this point, though there will be plenty of competition for his services, and his market could easily materialize before LeMahieu’s clarifies.
The 31-year-old would be the greatest shortstop anyone on the Yankees staff has every pitched in front of, and he’s an offensive threat to some extent, too, hitting .297 with a .346 OBP this past year prior to opting out. Mostly, Simmons is a contact hitter who won’t walk much, but can still provide jaw-dropping defense on a nightly basis — yes, even out of Didi Gregorius’ league.
The fit is a juicy one, though we’d still rather opt for long-term security and the known quantity in LeMahieu. It’s a very different left side of the infield with Urshela and Simmons, to say the least.
2. Kolten Wong, 2B
If the Yankees go with a stopgap second baseman, it should be Kolten Wong.
At one point, I might’ve even suggested “trading for Robinson Cano” as an intriguing stopgap option at second base. But now I won’t!
If the Yankees intend to continue their Torres experiment at shortstop without LeMahieu’s aid, the elite defense of Kolten Wong (as opposed to the scrappy energy of Tommy La Stella) is really the only option.
This limited choice is why I don’t endorse such a maneuver — if the Yanks really want to let LeMahieu go, they should probably shift Torres back before the ink is dry. But Wong, who’s been targeted by both the Mets and Blue Jays with very little recent movement, is the best of the non-tender lot by a wide margin.
In 2019, he posted the best range factor/game in the entire National League (4.50), and regularly grades out with a positive DRS (+16 in 2018, +19 in 2019). His bat isn’t half bad, either. Wong’s a high OBP performer with moderate power (11 homers and 59 RBI in 2019), and finished 20th in the MVP conversation in his most recent full season.
Objectively, he’s a good fit for just about any team, and the Cardinals forfeited his services on what amounts to a one-year, $12 million deal. So the Yankees would simply have to beat that.
Signing Wong now would, frankly, be a lot like signing LeMahieu two years ago. Initially disappointing, but you’ll ultimately get to a valuable place.
1. Marcus Semien, SS
The Yankees are getting connected to Marcus Semien.
This one we didn’t see coming, but Jeff Passan illuminated the connection on Monday.
Mainly, we’d counted Semien out because we didn’t see the third-place MVP finisher from 2019 succumbing to the dull market and accepting a one-year deal. However, it now seems he’s been put through the wringer already, with teams asking about a possible position switch to third or second, as well as his short-term viability.
Coming off a down 2020 (but who isn’t?), Semien brings 30-homer power and is the current leader in WAR among all free agents over the past three seasons at 12.6. Not bad. Literally the best.
Per the metrics, he’s been an elite defender in recent years, too, save for ’20. But the metrics are wonky, and taking one year (especially a 60-gamer) at face value is dangerous. Semien’s glove established itself at the big league level before his bat ever did, and he’d be a welcome addition at just 30 years old.
According to FanGraphs, the five closest comparisons at Semien’s age to his ability at shortstop were Derek Jeter, Barry Larkin, Jimmy Rollins, Brandon Crawford, and José Reyes.
Even if he’s not the target we anticipated coming off his hotly-contested MVP finalist run with LeMahieu in 2019, any Yankee fan worth his salt would admit he’d be a hard addition to turn down.