Aaron Boone's excuse for DJ LeMahieu shows why Yankees will never be serious

It's been genuinely sad what's happened to DJ LeMahieu. Most New York Yankees fans aren't even mad about the lackluster play anymore. They've just realized that the situation has run its course and the team needs to figure out another solution.

When LeMahieu signed his six-year, $90 million contract after the 2020 season, almost nobody argued against it. He needed to remain a Yankee after what he did in 2019 and 2020. It was non-negotiable. Losing him at his peak powers, with the belief that he'd still bring a contact-first hitting profile to the lineup even when he started to regress, felt like a wild oversight.

So when he came back, the Yankees had their leadoff hitter for the next (at least) three years. Pay for some regression, sure. You have to do it.

There were multiple issues, though. First of all, the rest of the Yankees' lineup wasn't deep enough. All their additions didn't live up to their abilities and others began to inexplicably fall off. Secondly, LeMahieu hasn't been healthy or able since the day he re-signed.

And we've seen the worst of it in 2024. But the Yankees refuse to remove him from the lineup while he's batting .177 with a .471 OPS and 36 OPS+. He has zero home runs in 39 games. He has just three extra-base hits and 11 RBI. Even his defense has been affected. But if you ask manager Aaron Boone, it seems that none of it matters.

Aaron Boone's excuse for DJ LeMahieu shows why Yankees will never be serious

LeMahieu has been limited by countless injuries for FOUR years now. His peak accomplishment over that span was winning the Utility Gold Glove award. Otherwise, he's mostly been a shell of his former self. His batting average has plummeted (his best since 2021 is a .268 mark). His .390 slugging percentage in 2023 has also been his best over that span ... which is his worst mark since 2015.

The 2024 Yankees are still in a mini spiral. They are 9-19 over their last 28 games. Their series win over the Orioles right before the break still didn't feel like they had gotten out of their funk because of the manner in which they blew the finale. This team is lacking consistency in almost every manner possible, and trotting LeMahieu out there will continue to work against finding a rhythm.

He's 36 years old. His athleticism has taken a massive downturn due to the injuries and time off the field. If Boone is talking about LeMahieu "earning" the right to play, he's living in the past. His play from 2019-2020 is so far in the rearview that it feels like a different era.

The Yankees have problems all over the roster, and one of them is LeMahieu at third base. It's just the reality. We could argue Gleyber Torres at second base and Alex Verdugo in left field, too. That trio cannot remain everyday players beyond the trade deadline if the Yankees are serious about winning the World Series.

But Boone's messaging on LeMahieu once again emphasizes the complacency that has doomed this team ever since he took over. Maybe it's lip service not to throw LeMahieu under the bus, but usually this type of talk doesn't follow action. That's why fans are worried. Once again, they're being told the opposite of what they're witnessing.