The New York Yankees parted ways with infielder DJ LeMahieu after seven seasons when the veteran was designated for assignment Wednesday.
LeMahieu, 36, was batting .266 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in 45 games after starting the season with a calf injury. He batted just .204 with two home runs and 26 RBIs in 67 games last season.
The Yankees made the move with a year and a half still remaining on LeMahieu’s six-year, $90 million contract. The team still owes him estimated $22 million, according to ESPN.
On Tuesday, the Yankees replaced LeMahieu at second base by Jazz Chisholm Jr.
“It’s been a tough couple of days, some hard conversations and then ultimately coming to this conclusion (was) obviously not easy for what has been a great player,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He has done a lot of great things for this organization.”
In his seven seasons in New York, LeMahieu batted .278 with a .351 on-base percentage and had 77 home runs with 314 RBIs. In 15 seasons with the Chicago Cubs (2011), Colorado Rockies (2012-18) and Yankees, the three-time All-Star batted .289 with a .350 on-base percentage, 126 home runs and 663 RBIs.
“Difficult, but at the end it feels like the right thing to do at this time and certainly wish all the best for what has been a great player,” Boone said.
Yankees make ‘difficult’ decision to DFA DJ LeMahieu
