DJ LeMahieu’s time in pinstripes came to an abrupt end Thursday, as the New York Yankees designated the veteran infielder for assignment.
The move came just one day after manager Aaron Boone told reporters that LeMahieu would no longer be part of the team’s everyday lineup.
On Tuesday, Boone confirmed Jazz Chisholm Jr. would reclaim the second base job and LeMahieu would become a “bat off the bench.”
That shift followed weeks of defensive struggles and mounting questions about LeMahieu’s physical limitations. Boone noted it was “a challenge” for the 36-year-old to play third base and that his declining mobility had made his defense at second untenable.
Chisholm, who was named an AL All-Star reserve over the weekend, had spent time at both second and third base this season. With the Yankees’ infield defense faltering, the club opted to maximize Chisholm’s athleticism up the middle. Oswald Peraza, meanwhile, is expected to handle the bulk of duties at third.
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LeMahieu’s exit was not entirely unexpected. Since returning from a calf injury in May, he had posted just a .676 OPS and hit two home runs across 142 plate appearances. His declining offensive output left little room for him on a roster that already includes Giancarlo Stanton in a hitter-only capacity.
“It’s been a tough couple days, some hard conversations and then ultimately coming to this decision, obviously not easy for what’s been a great player,” Boone said, as transcribed by Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. “But at the end, I feel like this is the right thing to do at this time.”
The Yankees still owe LeMahieu the remainder of his 2025 salary and $15 million more for 2026. His departure marks another costly veteran cut for the club, joining recent DFA decisions involving Josh Donaldson, Harrison Bader and Aaron Hicks.
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