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Yankees: Bo Bichette seems desperate to steal DJ LeMahieu for Blue Jays

Adam Weinrib
Adam Weinrib

Yanks Go Yard

BUFFALO, NY - SEPTEMBER 23: DJ LeMahieu #26 of the New York Yankees tags out Bo Bichette #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays as he tries to steal second base at Sahlen Field on September 23, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team due to the Canadian government's policy on COVID-19, which prevents them from playing in their home stadium in Canada. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

The Yankees have to worry about their neighbors to the north in the DJ LeMahieu chase.

The Toronto Blue Jays have chased every free agent on the market this offseason, as well as the top trade chip in Francisco Lindor, firmly placing themselves at eye level with the Yankees in the American League East chase.

And while the Jays’ rise to contention will sting, it won’t be full-on painful unless they managed to be the ones to swoop in and ruin the Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu plans.

Recent rumors peg the Jays as “engaged” with the Yanks’ current second baseman, which should come as no surprise — Toronto and the Los Angeles Dodgers are probably the only free-spending franchises that are also unique fits for his services. Plus, as we wrote earlier, if you’re a free agent, it would appear Toronto is talking to you.

The longer the gulf between Brian Cashman and LeMahieu’s representatives lingers, though, the higher the likelihood that he accepts a deal elsewhere.

Sensing the slightest crack, Jays budding star Bo Bichette did his very best this week to put the clamps on LeMahieu, buttering him up as the offseason hopefully reaches a boiling point.

“Best hitter in baseball and it’s not close”?! I thought only anti-Aaron Judge Yankees fans were supposed to talk like that!

As far as potential free agent fits, Bichette has certainly chosen a good one. LeMahieu’s potent bat plays in any stadium, and his versatility in the infield can help clear up the team’s theoretical position confusion with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

On the downside, though, the Jays are subject to the same corollary as the Yankees are here: If you sign LeMahieu, then where does Lindor go, seeing as Bichette’s also a part of this team? Unlike the Yanks, the Jays actually appear to be very much involved in that sweepstakes, and quite likely at the front of the line.

Never mind top prospect Austin Martin, who should be very much available in a year or two.

The Yankees have “cried poor” so far because they don’t seem to think that anyone will match their drive and desire in the LeMahieu chase with the requisite dollar figures.

But if Toronto GM Ross Atkins listens to Bichette, they could be singing a different tune quickly.

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib is a Content Director on the FanSided network, and has been the co-editor at Yanks Go Yard for 6 years. He also co-hosts The Baseball Insiders Podcast thrice weekly, alongside FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray, as well as the Yanks Go Yard Podcast. Previously, he was a Senior Editor at 12up.com, and has been covering MLB and NFL for 10 years. He was also a headline and features contributor at ClickHole and Onion Sports, as well as the Associate Producer of the ESPN 30 for 30 film "Believeland". An avowed fan of the New York sports teams -- specifically the Yankees -- as well as the North Carolina Tar Heels, you can find Adam complaining mid-game on Twitter, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn if the game goes really poorly.