DJ LeMahieu had the same reaction as many others on Saturday when he felt pain in his left calf. Speaking to NJ.com’s Randy Miller, he expressed disbelief, saying, “When the pain hit, my first thought was, ‘Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of sick joke?’” LeMahieu, however, isn’t acting like a player defeated by yet another setback. He plans to have an MRI to assess the injury’s severity.
While he acknowledges that being ready for Opening Day is unlikely, the 36-year-old isn’t sounding like someone considering retirement, as some fans have speculated. “I’m definitely very confident in myself,” he said. “That hasn’t wavered. But at the same time, I keep getting hit with body blows, and that’s discouraging. I know I have something to offer this team if I can…”
LeMahieu has struggled with injuries since 2022, which have affected his performance at the plate. A toe injury hindered him late in 2022, keeping him out of the postseason and causing a significant dip in his offensive numbers.
In 2023, recurring foot and lower-body problems impacted his mechanics, leading to a career-low .243 batting average, just 15 home runs, and a .711 OPS. He finished last season hitting .204 in 67 games after dealing with a fractured foot and a hip impingement. This decline stands in stark contrast to 2020 when he led MLB with a .364 average and a 1.011 OPS during the shortened season.
LeMahieu still has two years and $30 million left on his contract, which he signed after the 2020 season. He entered spring training aiming to earn the starting third base position over Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza. The Yankees also explored trading for veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado during the winter, an idea that gained traction among fans last week. Arenado, who has three years and $72 million remaining on his contract, made an unexpected three-hour trip to Tampa for a Grapefruit League game, sparking further speculation about a potential trade to the Yankees.
