Second baseman DJ LeMahieu was a godsend for the Yankees during the previous two seasons, but as a free agent, he could go elsewhere this offseason. Re-signing with the Yankees is LeMahieu’s preference, according to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, but the 2020 American League batting champion wants to stay in the area. That could put a LeMahieu-Mets union in play, per Davidoff, though he reports that the Blue Jays are also in on him.
The Mets now have an unexpected opening at the keystone after starter Robinson Cano received a 162-game suspension Wednesday because of performance-enhancing drugs. Cano won’t earn a penny of his $24MM salary as a result, which will only make it easier for new, deep-pocketed Mets owner Steve Cohen to make splashes this winter. The Mets don’t necessarily have to throw money around at second, as they could simply use Jeff McNeil at the position and allocate their cash elsewhere, but LeMahieu does look like a more realistic option for the franchise than he did before Cano’s punishment came down.
The Yankees, for their part, aren’t going to let LeMahieu walk without a fight. They already gave LeMahieu a qualifying offer worth $18.9MM for 2021, but he made the no-brainer decision to reject it. They still want to keep him, however, according to Davidoff.
Regardless of whether LeMahieu stays with the Yankees, the team’s call to sign him for two years and $24MM before 2019 was a masterstroke, considering he was its best player over the prior two seasons. The 32-year-old former Cub and Rockie is now coming off a near-MVP season, which puts LeMahieu in position to clean up during this winter’s free-agent period. MLBTR pegs LeMahieu for a four-year, $68MM contract, though it wouldn’t be surprising to see him do even better than that on the open market.
Wouldn’t make much sense for the Mets to go hard after DJLM. So I’m sure that’s where he’s going.
He isn’t going to be a Met and I don’t even want him. But why would it not make sense???
The Mets need starting pitching, a catcher and a center fielder. They’re in decent shape in the infield. Signing DJLM would be a huge waste of money that would be much better spent elsewhere.
The mistake you guys make is that the Mets would only spend on DJ lol. And they really only need SP. CF and C would be nice but the only reason Mets didn’t make it last year was bc of pitching.
And clutch hitting.
The reasons why it doesn’t make sense for the Mets to go after DJ:
1) Cano and his $24MM are coming back in 2022 (and 2023). Wouldn’t make sense to carry them BOTH.
2) They have other internal options at 2B.
3) There are other good, affordable options externally (Wong) if they insist on going there.
4) They have other fish to fry with expensive FA deals (Bauer, Springer, JTR, Ozuna, etc.)
Exactly kodiak. The Mets need offense because they couldn’t hit with RISP. Also they just lost the cheater who was their 3rd best offensive player in 2020. As it stands, that lineup has holes, but Cohen will fill them.
Cano won’t ever play for the Mets again…
RISP usually changes yearly. I’m not going to sit here and say they are and with RISP after 60 games especially when the last 20 games they did amazing with RISP
I agree and that’s why I expect the Mets to have a positive regression with RISP. But DJL fits the offense of this team perfectly
I agree. Obviously any team could use him, especially since he plays the whole infield, but he is a phenomenal hitter, but they have infielders and could use other players instead.
To be fair, @VonPurple Hayes, if the Mets really need a clutch hitter, they can’t really do much better than DJL. I agree they don’t need him and have more pressing concerns, but if Cohen is going to be all-in, he’d be smart to go after not just what they need, but even a luxury like DJ.
Completely agree. I wouldn’t be shocked if they made a serious play for DJ.
He also offers good infield defense, something they lacked in 2020.
No kidding, Metsfan22.
Obviously they’d invest in another second baseman as well as DJ.
im a huge Mets fan too and we need a good catcher too!! McCann is much better investment than Realmuto…. Bauer, Morton and another starter because u cant have too many starters and maybe another reliever or 2
Cano might not play again for the Mets, but he’s gonna get paid by them.
They’re not eating that contract so unless he retires you’ll see him in 2022
Mo, you left out the (overall) lack of good young talent pool in the minors.
You know what separates the dodgers, braves, yankees, and rays from the also rans?
Talented guys with years of control left in the minors. Not one or two but across the positions. Someone is hurt you call up and plug in. All those recently successful teams have those guys in the minors. Heck look at the braves injuries and they were some baserunning gaffes from knocking off the dodgers and going to the series.
Mets don’t have that yet. You can spend $300m on free agents to get 1-9 talented, but when someone goes down you’re left with a gaping hole that costs you.
They’re in decent shape at the corners. They’re adequate at short but lacking up the middle otherwise. If they move McNeil to 2nd, they weaken themselves at 3rd. .
They might eat the contract. New ownership, new attitude.
That would answer my prayers. Give us back Kelenic as well and I’d cry tears of joy.
You don’t want him? Are you confused with someone else? DJ Lemahieu is a top player in the mlb, and a top second bagger in the mlb. Definitely, in my opinion, DJ was the best player in New York this year
DJ also had one of shortest average HR distances of free agents
Just because he was good in NYY doenst mean he’s the same player in every park..
I guess playing in Yankee Stadium and Coors Field must feel like you’re playing in little league. But with Lemahieu I dont recall reading the concerns you normally see voiced in similar situations.
Because those short HRs he hit in YS were hit hard the other way. They’d be doubles elsewhere. It’s not like he’s getting freebie hits.
Seriously why would you not want him?
If you mean the Mets, they don’t need DJ… you can’t just randomly collect top free agents, they need to fit. Mets don’t need another IFr… they need a catcher, lots of pitching and maybe even a CFr… why buy DJ when you can get JT or Springer, or a pitcher they actually need? Why not sign players according to an actual sensible plan?
Mets had contact problems- DJ helps that
But where does he play and whom does he supplant? Mets have major up the middle defense problems and signing DJ makes it harder to sign JT or Springer, who both fill much more pressing needs. They also need 2 starters and BP help. Another IFr, contact skills or not, is way down the list.
The position is prob 4th among the holes they need to fill but DJL is the exact hitter they need. Right handed bat that’s a monster with RISP.
Signing Lemahieu allows the Mets added flexibility to make an offseason trade to address other needs. Kinda like your Yankees because they don’t draft well. Lemahieu makes more sense for the Mets than you think.
A very good point. Sign DJ for 5 years, trade McNeill for a haul. And I say this as a Yankee fan that wants DJ to re-sign.
McNeil can play the outfield too, so even if they sign DJ they could still play McNeil and Nimmo in left or center. They have plenty of options.
I meant the idea of dealing a Davis, Smith and/or one of their prospect SS. Although I’m sure McNeil would garner a nice return. Given the pitching market I’d say the Mets don’t need to dangle McNeil to get a Lynn or Musgrove type.
Why not just keep McNeil, who is waaaay cheaper? They don’t need DJ.
Why sign him and THEN trade from surplus? Very unnecessarily complex. Just sign who you need and keep who you have. Why sign a player then go, hey now we have a glut, let’s make a trade? Seems odd. Mets don’t need LaMahieu.
Because the Mets have two prospect SS that will bring a return of pitching. Neither could be DJL. They have two 1B and a 3B who should be at 1B. DJL can slide to 3B. They need Lemahieu and need to use their chips to grab pitching. It would also save them money rather than spend on multiple FA.
Just sign pitching. They don’t need another IFr, the need SPs, a catcher, BP help and improved OF defense. DJ is an upgrade on offense (how much depends on whom he pushes out of the lineup) but hinders them from signing what they really need. You have the money for DJ, you have the money for JT or Springer, either of which way better fits team needs. You can trade prospects without signing DJ. But please let’s not trade any more prospects.
Two prospect SS blocked and you don’t want to make a trade. Well done. Let them rot in the minors like Profar in Texas.
They are shortstops… they can move to other positions… plus who knows if Gimenez is for real yet. You wanna toss away top prospects cuz you’re assuming you won’t need them? So you wanna trade 2 prospects from a thin minor league system and spend big on a player who doesn’t play a position of need. I don’t get the plan.
A yanks fan showing off their 3rd grade education what a shock….
No thanks greater needs
27m lol no
Yes hes going to get a lot of money from the Mets and thats fine I just wish the yankees could trade for McNeil as he’s replacement.
McNeil would be an extremely costly get, between the 5 years of reasonably affordable control and the fact that they have no real push to trade him (even if they do get DJL)
You forget that signing DJL would create a log jam for available positions vs the players available to play but that’s not the main reason they probably won’t sign him unless he falls into their lap…..Cano is still owed I believe 2 years and about $48 million after coming back for his 2022 and 2023 seasons….Cohen didn’t get rich by spending as he calls it “like a drunken sailor”……the priorities should be Springer and more pitching first.
See, if the Mets sign DJ and need CF help, they can trade McNeil for a CF. There will be teams with a lot jam in the OF who would be listening to offers. If Mets mention McNeal, teams will be listening and thinking of ways to make this deal happen. Teams that could be open for OF for INF, Yankees (after losing out on DJ), Dodgers, Cubs, Reds (hence, Nick Senzel), Angels (Trout discluded), Rangers, and Twins
Or they could sign for their position of need. Springer & McNeil is better than any combo you can try to mix and match from those teams to be honest. It sort of feels like people are outsmarting themselves.
Blue Painted, i agree with your idea the most!! DJLM is 32 already and McNeil hits for a high average and a few years younger so keep him and sign Springer and get McCann
McNeil for Torres
I would take McNeil over Torres any day, and I am neither a yankees fan nor a mets fan
It’s so obvious
I ask a Yankee fan would take Torres over McNeil any day
Definitely take Torres over McNeil. No doubt.
He’s good, but the Mets have enough offense (and as mentioned, McNeil) and need to use the $$$ on SP’ing, like Bauer.
New owners make a lot of stupid mistakes at first so overpaying for DJ seems about right.
Don’t worry mets will not go after him
I’m not a Mets fan but they don’t need DJL. They should sign Realmuto and Springer. They could even make a trade and get Arenando or Bryant for third base.
New owners have never paid a $Billion dollar fine for insider trading without blinking…..he’s not stupid and isn’t a Billionaire for nothing…..he will spend the smart money which isn’t signing Dj first before catcher, centerfield, and pitching.
He’s also not necessarily new. He’s been a minority owner for years so I’m sure he understands the business better than someone coming off the street.
I’d pass on him. Overrated.. A worse McNeil who has better stats than McNeil bc of a certain situation that I don’t even have to explain. I’d love him on my team but not for 20+ a year at the age of 31-32
The Mets should pass on him, but he’s hardly overrated. Name the players that the stat geeks never ever shift on. DJL and who ? He sprays the ball to all fields versus every other Yankee camping out, waiting for a meatball to hit for a home run. That’s why they can’t win in October, no Yankee but DJ knows how to put a ball in play…
I mean he isn’t a MVP candidate if he plays for the Indians or Mets. Stadium helps a lot. Still a really good player. Not better than McNeil
Other than the fact that McNeil will never see an OPS+ anywhere near 177 you might have a point.
Does that stat take into account the competition both teams face??? Other than the rays you guys are facing AAA pitching staffs. Come on be smarter than that.
You always need to make up your own stats. Otherwise you’d lose every argument you’re in. Like this year you need your own stats because the Mets were apparently the only team with injuries. And then there’s your precious argument about not doing better because it was only 60 games, as if no other teams were playing with the same “handicap.” Lol. McNeil will never come close to 177 OPS+. Deal with it.
Mo, your ballpark hugely inflates hitters stats, thats just the truth….especially left handed batters. DJLM is a great contact hitter though, much respect to him
How good would McNeil be in Yankees stadium though?
Can’t DJL play 3b?
Lol not better than McNeil ? Wow, when McNeil wins a batting title At all let me know….. let alone in both leagues. When McNeil can play 3 IF positions that good let me Know.
Just ask anyone if they would rather have dj or Jeff and you will get the same answer every time, and it’s not Jeff. Enlighten me as to why Jeff is better. I get it the Mets are your boys but that’s a bit over the top imho. So I guess if you play in New York or Colorado you have to hit 400 to get your rightful credit these days.
Toronto’s pitching staff collectively ranked (tied) for 16th in fWAR. Baltimore ranked 12th. Only Boston’s staff was bad.
Probably a good idea to do your homework before talking trash and/or questioning someone else’s intelligence.
Yeah same for that Trout guy when you can have Conforto at a fraction of the cost. /s
Now you’re getting carried away….”overacted”? REALLY…..a 2 time batting champ and 2 time gold glove winner;….what has McNeil won by the way?
McNeil would hit 340 with 30+ hr facing the bluejays redsoxs and orioles in those stadiums LOL!!! That Short RF would probably gift wrap McNeil a mvp lol
MetsFan looks like you picked the wrong day to “start” sniffing glue
MetsFan22 always needs to come up with these imaginary stats to make an argument. The real ones don’t work for him.
Delusional if you think that’s true. That’s like me saying deGrom would get rocked if he pitched in a smaller stadium. Of course deGrom wouldn’t. DJ is a better hitter than McNeil. You have to take the homer shades off sometimes.
Didn’t the Yankees play a significant portion of their season this year against the NL East? By my count, looks like 20 games. Seems like if the NL East was the greatest then DJ would have had terrible stats this year.
Completely different to compare pitchers to hitters.
If anything, wouldn’t a bigger park amplify LeMahieu’s strengths? As a “hit ’em where they ain’t” type of batter, more space for the defence to cover would make it even more difficult to defend against him. More singles dropping in front of deeper positioned outfielders and more space to find the gaps for extra bases. Fine if you think the Mets have what they need, but for a team that plays such lousy defence, it’s also hard to picture them turning their noses up at a guy who can at the least make the routine plays at multiple positions.
You just make up your own facts.
McNeil is due for regression. His obp will fall in the coming seasons. He has to hit his way on base, he doesn’t walk enough. Great hitter and doesn’t strikeout much. Not a knock, but he’s no dj. When Jeff wins a batting title than you can start that discussion. But a guy with one good full season(only 130 something games) isn’t comparable to a two time batting champion who can play 3 infield positions at plus or league average defense. Huge homer to even compare the two.
The Angels need a middle infielder.
Mets will not pursue DJL. They have other players to cover that position and will probably focus on pitching, OF and trades. Although, it would be fun to put in a call just to make the Yankees pay a premium.
He’ll probably get a 21+million a year deal if the Mets and Yankees get into a bidding war
Does this really say anything that we didn’t know already?
Yanks4life- Then what?
Mostly it says NY writers were pulling things out of their butts trying to tie the Yankees and Mets together.
Post toasty’s!
Well if the Yanks sign him, it’s goodbye Gio or Farm boy because Torres CANNOT play short!
Why would they trade Gio if they can’t sign DJL? They can sign Simmons, Semien, or Didi to a one-year deal and slide Torres to 2B.
I said if they DO sign him it’s goodbye Gio OR Farm boy, last time I checked there were only 4 infield spots – unless you want him to catch!?
I would be willing, and this is me personally, to trade Voit+ in a package to Cleveland in exchange for Lindor and Carrasco… provided Lindor agrees to an extension window. DJ to first, Gleyber to second, Lindor at SS, Gio at third
Why would you trade Voit (who’s not a FA until ’25 btw) + top pitching prospects + Frazier for one year of Lindor when you can sign him for money? NYY are a bad fit for that trade anyway.
I’m gonna make it real simple for you, what position is DJM gonna play?
I seriously doubt Cleveland would go for it but if you can close them on it, I guess I’d go along too
Cleveland’s biggest need is MLB outfield help. I don’t see a Lindor deal to the Indians happening without Clint Frazier as part of the trade package.
I really hope he’s not the big fish the Jays get. His home-road splits are atrocious throughout his career and even if his glove stays good, which it likely will, his bat won’t be worth whatever he’s going to get paid. Especially if it’s going to take 3-4 years to lock him down. I’d much rather go the cheaper route and bring in Wong if they want to shore up the infield defense.
G GS PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB ROE BAbip tOPS+ sOPS+
Home 24 24 108 97 28 41 7 2 8 19 1 0 10 13 .423 .481 .784 1.265 76 2 1 0 0 0 0 .434 147 227
Away 26 23 108 98 13 30 3 0 2 8 2 0 8 8 .306 .361 .398 .759 39 1 1 0 1 0 2 .315 53 114
As far as your comment about his home/away splits being “atrocious”, I think you should look up his actual stats before making that kind of comment…..423 at home and .306 on the road with his OPS+ stats are not “horrendous”….and as far as him going to the jays, there is abetter chance of seeing Santa on Christmas than him signing in Toronto.
Beyond, as far as his glove, he’s a 3 time Gold Glove winner so not sure whether he can satisfy your standards, but he certainly flashes defense with the best of them and also plays multiple infield positions which most don’t/can’t without suffering any decline.
.699 career ops on the road. I don’t really know what you’re talking about. Like always.
And my man, whatever you were trying to prove just proved my point lol. You’re looking at only one year in which he had a 12.000 ops at home and .750 on the road lmao….
OPS+ the last two year? 135, 177. WAR? 5.9, 2.8 (i.e., 6+). But you’re right, a superstar-studded team like the Jays doesn’t need him. Except for the fact that he would be an upgrade at 1B, 2B or 3B, all three of which he plays exceptionally well, you might have a point.
Wait you’re trying to disagree with something I said?
Mo, He hits like a god in Yankee stadium and then is either pretty average or even below throughout his career on the road. That’s the point. His numbers will go down when he moves to a different park. There’s no need to take it personally.
They said the same thing when he left Coors.
JDGoat
OPS+ accounts for park factors.
What’s his ops+ on the road? And what is it at home? Im not trying to pull a fast one on you guys lol. There is a drastic drop off, you cannot argue that at all.
Not to mention his swing is tailor made for Yankee Stadium and he has one of the lowest average HR distances in baseball. Statcast has him at him hitting 3 more home runs than expected last year and only one HR was a no doubter. Lots of fly ball outs in stadiums that aren’t Coors and Yankee Stadium. He’s a good player who put up incredible numbers past two years but I think there is a lot of risk in DJ and a non-Yankee team signing him could really regret it. Not a guarantee but there’s enough in the numbers to at least be worried about it if you look past the surface. DJ only had one year with an OPS+ Over 100 before coming to New York. It’s like Bauer he’s getting a ton of hype cuz of a stellar season but if he regresses to his career norm the contract he’s gonna get will look bad
Amazing how much an expert you are Goat….by the way name fits you……Well even if that was true, takes one to know one and your always the one!
2 time batting champ and 3 time Gold Glove winner…..says it all blowhard!
Incredible numbers the last 2 years….hey have you looked at his stats over his career, regardless of where he plays which by the way he has little control over as far as the field…..he plays and hits and field where the games are….and but the way, nobody ever thought he was a home run hitter so the short porch doesn’t really come into that much play with him in the Yankees offense….he’s a gap hitter who goes the way he’s pitched which his value on a team that characteristically has lived to long on the long ball for offense…..where you get this “his swing is tailor made for Yankee stadium just makes me thing you know nothing about how he adjusts and reacts at the plate as he’s pitched.
Analytics are great but do you ever watch a player play or just look at numbers……again 2 time batting champion and 3 time gold glove winner….says it all. Your sounding too much like the other guy who doesn’t know anything!
A career .960 OPS at Rogers Centre. I guess that’s below average according to JDG.
Triple slash pre 2019 298/350/406, as a Yankee 336/386/536. There’s a reason he got the contract he did 2 years ago. Great floor as a high obp great defence player but as a Jays fan I’d be cautiously optimistic if signing him for 20+ for 4 years. The batting title you point to in Colorado all the time was his ONLY above average hitting season in Colorado, as he ages and moves away from Yankee Stadium he seems like a candidate to drop off significantly with the bat. Im not sure how much I believe he developed power the past two years being legitimate as opposed to a factor of Yankee Stadium/being in a lineup of mashers either.
Could he have made the adjustments at age 30 to become an all around phenomenal hitter and add power he didn’t have before, when hitting in any ballpark or lineup? Sure. Based on what I see I don’t personally buy into it, but floor is high enough to find out. It’s just not a 0 risk venture like some think and he’s not a slam dunk MVP candidate for a new team.
The whole point is I don’t want to pay him 27 million or whatever he’s going to get if he’s only going to be worth 18 million outside of Yankee stadium. I get you like the guy, but trying to argue this for the sake of arguing isn’t going to get you anywhere. Everything I said is factually true, you disagreeing with it is on you, not me. You can’t accuse others of not knowing anything when you’re like that.
Stop whining.
As a Jays fan Lemahieu would not be my first choice. Age is the bigger concern. The ball change helped him and his stats reflect that. But I wouldn’t want him for more than two years plus an option. Better fits lie elsewhere.
He makes a lot of sense for the Mets in ‘21, but I don’t see it happening because LeMahieu will want (understandably so) a multi-year deal. The Mets aren’t going to pay $40-50M for two 2Bs in ‘22 and ‘23. The only way it makes sense is if the DH is implemented in the NL by ‘22. Both NYY and NYM have bigger needs, and for that reason I don’t see him in New York in ‘21.
How about in NY for the Jays ?
Mets can easily plug Mc Neil into second and concentrate on upgrading a catcher, and landing a big fish like Springer to shore up centerfield…..next up finding more pitching which helps them get over the hump next year!
NYY will ink DJ and trade Andujar and / or Torres
Mets have middle infield depth with McNeil, Gimenez, Guillorme, and they have even brought Jose Peraza to camp on a minor league contract. The money would be better spent on other players
DJL should go to the Orioles, he would be perfect
The Blue Jays need to get him and stick him at 3B.
Lemahieu would fit the Jays needs. 2B, 3B, wherever. UZR isn’t a good measure for defense so we can ignore that without a second thought.
As for the Mets they can sign Lemahieu and deal one of their SS for a pitcher. Also depends on what they will do with Nimmo and if they go for a CF. That means Davis could be moved. Dominic Smith also. Mets would have some chips to dangle in trades.
Rosario, Davis and a prospect for Lindor
McNeil at 3B. DJL at 2B. They could do that
They could. Indians probably want an OF but I do not see Nimmo, McNeil or Conforto going. Mets could use an arm. Dealing one of those guys will do the job.
@werealljustguests
I’m trading Alonso before smith. Smith has impressed me more than Pete the last 2 years. I think he out performs him rest of career
4 – 88
He’s had 2 + 60/162 seasons where he hasn’t been a mediocre hitter. His lifetime OPS+ is 102. Easy there fellas. The Mets don’t need that. McNeil’s at 139.
I hate that Theo traded him. Even with trading Eloy. LeMahieu for Ian Stewart in my eyes was much worse. You can agree to disagree. That’s just how I see it.
I think Quintana goes back to the Southside of Chicago. He can be a starter,spot starter, long relief. He’s great for an inning eater.
DJ should be plan B for the Jays if they don’t get lindor. Or if the Indians ask for Gurriel
Anyone remember Jason Bay? Great in Pittsburgh and Boston. Awful for NYM.
DJ meh in Chicago, batting titles for CO and NYY. NYM….?
He didn’t have enough time with the cubs to judge how good or bad he did.
DJ remains a Bomber 5 years at 90 to 100 mil would not surprise me. Make him the next captain. If they don’t resign him, they aren’t serious..
I would love him hitting in front of Trout and slider Fletch to 9th. But ya know, pitching.
Picture this instead:
Dalbec 3b, Bogey SS, DJL 2B, Devers 1B.
Jeter downs hasn’t played a handful of games at AA and lost last year’s development mostly.
If DJL is up for a 3-4 years length deal in beantown, that buys time for the 22 yr old. It also turns a black hole into a strength.
I’d rather see 2b get filled and JBJ back 2 years or so in the OF than a bigger OF bat and the chasm remaining at 2b.
lol mets
well, seeing as he was sitting on a bench in FL the other day wearing his NY hat!, i doubt Toronto is in play.
The Yanks and the Mets need the same thing to beat the Dodgers or Rays, more pitching! Bauer is the best pitcher, and anyone else is a distant second. I think both teams will be aggressive filling their needs this year. Sevy and German are wild cards for the Yanks, so I think they go after another starter like Minor, and sign DJ. The Mets go after Bauer and Springer., and add a catcher like McCann.
I wouldn’t get too pumped up, I don’t c the Mets keeping up with the rest of the division, Braves, Philly, and now Miami, catcher, and pitching issues and whatever else
I hate to say but this article isn’t much of an update or latest info. It’s all fluff and re-stating what has been said already a dozen times
Yankees really want DJL and he wants to return to the Yankees. Guess where he is going?
It won’t be the Mets or the BlueJays unless there is a drastic overpay by one of this teams.
Yankees will spend when they have to, but they also often get a discount from guys who *really* want to be there. I view DJL as a combination of those two factors and I think they’ll split the difference.
I’m sure on a short term deal the Yankees would give DJL anything he wants. 1 year/$25M, 2 years/$40M, etc. but he knows he can get the dollars, so he wants the years.
I think they end up giving him a massive signing bonus, a couple years at a max rate and then his salary drops back for a few years, plus a full no trade clause.
5 years/$81M guarantee
$11.5M signing bonus
2021: $11.5M
2022: $17.5M
2023: $17.5M
2024: $11.5M
2025: $11.5M
Ends up with the equivalent of a 7 year/$105M total deal with the Yankees.
It’d be a very rich but very fair deal by today’s standards, it gives him the difference in salary for what he provided them these past two seasons above his pay grade, it accounts for potential decline or increased platooning as he ages and he gets paid market rate for the most valuable years of any new contract he’d sign.
Think of it like 3 years/$58M and then 2 years/$23M tacked on.
I am guessing that DJl will go back to the Yankees. But I watched him play a lot the last two years and he would be a perfect fit on the Mets. He is so consistent as a hitter and would make that lineup so much stronger. He is also an excellent fielder and can play several positions.
Do the Mets have other priorities? Yes. But he is a heck of a player who would make the team much stronger.
DJL is a great player, no doubt. That said, he was helped (significantly) by the short-porch at (new) Yankee stadium. The Yankees need him more than the Mets because McNeil is cheap, controlled, and an excellent hitter. He doesn’t have the pedigree that DJL has, but I’d take him 10 out of 10 times for literally $15m+ less per year than DJL.. The Mets need a CF, C, and at least 2 SP and to overhaul most of their BP. They also are very thing at AA and AAA.
The Mets should sign Bauer, Morton/similar, McCann, and consider taking on an overpaid reliever if a team makes them available on the waiver wire. At least half of the league is looking to slash payroll, so there will be deals to be had.
DJL can go back to the Yankees, but the Yankees also need more pitching. That extra $24m for ’21 from Cano’s salary would be a great 1yr higher AAV deal for a pitcher or 2-3 BP arms. The Mets are finally out from under the Wilpons, so they actually have money to spend. I expect them to be major players in FA and also on the waiver wire.
I read that Cohen has more $ than the next 3 richest MLB owners combined. I expect the club to spend more than prior years, but still stay under the $250m cap, as the penalties get much more significant than the first level of “payroll tax’. They have anywhere from $75m-$100m to spend and still stay under the $250m cap. What matters more though is that teams want to cut payroll, so there will be few options for those players to go. I’m hopeful the Mets can leverage $ (for once!) and actually start to rebuild their minors that were strip-mined by BVW…the worst GM in Mets history.
The Yankees should let DJL go now. They got the two best years of his career at a bargain price so if the Mets want to pay for his decline like they are paying for Cano’s decline then let them.
Move Torres back to second and either take a one year flyer on a guy like Simmons or better yet see if Wade or Estrada can hit enough to stick there. Then they will have reset the cap and can sign one of the big free agent short stops next offseason.
The Mets do NOT need DJ. McNeil same or better player. Plus he is younger. It would be a bad signing.
Mets have a few controlable Core players that should be out of trade talk. McNeil, Alonzo, Smith,Conforto, Nimmo and Gimenez.If you want to trade Davis,Rosario and / or Guillorme is fine but , with the 68 millions plus another 7 to 9 millions of Matz , Gsellman and Heredia are not tender , The front Office have 75 to 77 millions to sign 2 starters,2 relievers and a catcher. I am pretty sure The A’s looking for a SS would trade Ramon Laureano CF for Amed Rosario. Sign Bauer30, Minor 7, Hand 8, McGee 5,McCaan 10.now if the Cubs want to trade Javier Baez for J.D.Davis and Lou Guillorme do it too. McCaan c. Smith 1b. Alonzo dh. McNeil 2b. Gimenez ss. Baez 3b. Nimmo LF. Laureano CF. Conforto Rf. deGrom , Bauer, Stroman,Syndergaard and Peterson. Rotation .Diaz,Hand,Lugo, Mcgee,Familia, Betances, Brach, shevere or Castro Bullpen . I would say playoff bound for sure.
There is absolutely no chance that Oakland would trade Ramon Laureano for Rosario. After they stopped laughing, they would hang up the phone and block the number. Laureano has so much more value than Rosario does.