Blue Jays Rumours: Why the interest in DJ LeMahieu?

One of the biggest bats is on the market, and it’s none other than the right-handed second baseman, DJ LeMahieu.

A New York Yankee the past two seasons, the 2020 leader in Major League batting average is now a free agent, with teams such as the Nationals, the Yankees, the Mets, and yes, the Blue Jays with interest in signing him.

Why the Blue Jays should sign him:

While primarily a second baseman with 37 games started this year at that position, he is also known to move around the infield, with 11 games at first base and 11 at third in the 2020 season. He finished by leading the American and National Leagues in batting average with .364 over 50 games.

With additional impressive stats this season of .421 OBP, 1.011 OPS, 27 RBI, and 10 home runs, it’s easy to see why any team would want him on their roster. He has almost a decade of experience in the majors, so bringing DJ LeMahieu up to the north would also bring leadership and guidance to this young team.

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LeMahieu is an all-around solid player that would make a great addition to the Jays as well because of work on the field. This shortened, but interesting season showed DJ with a .971 fielding percentage, 82 assists, 51 putouts, and four errors at second base.

Although one may think that the Blue Jays already have a solid player at second base with Biggio, Cavan has shown that he is a utility player that can also handle third base if necessary. So, if the Jays were to sign DJ, they would have a stable and consistent infield to start each game, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Rowdy Tellez at first, LeMahieu at second, Bo Bichette at shortstop, and Cavan Biggio at third.

That said, LeMahieu has experience at other infield positions, such as shortstop, DH, first and third base, and has proven that no matter where he is, he can make a difference for any team.

While I personally think that D will end up back in the Bronx with the Yankees, as I’m sure they will desperately want to resign their leadoff hitter, stranger things have happened this year. And with the Blue Jays seemingly looking to make some big moves this offseason, let’s not count out this possibility of a rival Yankee joining the Canadian team.

The Jays have to be ready to spend though, considering how well he did this year, how many top teams want him, and his $12 million dollar salary this past season from the Yankees.

Even if they get all the numbers right and outbid some of the other teams, it is reported that DJ may want to stay in New York, so Toronto may not appeal to him as much, especially with the current Canadian-American border closures.

The Blue Jays are holding strong though in the hunt for experience and talent, and seeing DJ LeMahieu on this team would provide a stronger offence and defence for the upcoming seasons. I guess we will all wait to find out.

Do you think that the Blue Jays will sign DJ LeMahieu?