{"id":30222,"date":"2025-01-30T10:47:31","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T10:47:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=30222"},"modified":"2025-01-30T10:48:30","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T10:48:30","slug":"yankees-were-reportedly-ready-to-dfa-struggling-veteran-before-captains-intervention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=30222","title":{"rendered":"Yankees were reportedly ready to DFA struggling veteran before captain’s intervention"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Yankees
Credit: David Rodriguez Munoz \/ USA TODAY NETWORK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Aaron Judge is known for his imposing presence on the field, but his impact on the New York Yankees stretches far beyond the batter\u2019s box. As the team\u2019s captain, Judge\u2019s leadership carries weight, and it turns out that his voice also resonates in decisions off the field.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s become something of an unofficial consultant, offering his opinions on potential moves and roster adjustments. His influence is clear, but recent reports suggest that this power might be steering the Yankees in the wrong direction.<\/p>\n

A Questionable Intervention: DJ LeMahieu\u2019s Fate<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Recent chatter from Barstool Sports\u2019 Eric Hubbs claims that the Yankees were set to designate DJ LeMahieu for assignment last season when the team called up Jasson Dom\u00ednguez. However, Judge, alongside a few other veterans, reportedly stepped in to prevent the move. The reason? Judge believes LeMahieu can still be a contributor if he\u2019s fully healthy.<\/p>\n

\"Yankees
Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the surface, it\u2019s easy to see why Judge would advocate for LeMahieu. The two have shared the clubhouse since LeMahieu\u2019s arrival in 2019, and the veteran infielder has been a solid presence during that time. But a deeper look at LeMahieu\u2019s recent performance paints a different picture, one that raises questions about whether Judge\u2019s intervention was in the best interest of the team.<\/p>\n

The Decline of DJ LeMahieu<\/strong><\/h3>\n

LeMahieu\u2019s decline has been swift and noticeable. Back in 2019 and 2020, he was playing like an MVP candidate, earning serious consideration with his bat. But since then, the numbers have been on a downward trajectory. In 2021, he posted a 101 wRC+, which was just barely above league average, and in 2022, that figure improved slightly to 115.<\/p>\n

However, 2023 was a real warning sign. With a wRC+ of just 99, LeMahieu was already playing below average. But 2024? That\u2019s when things really fell off a cliff. With a wRC+ of 52 in 228 plate appearances, LeMahieu found himself among the worst regulars in the league. While injuries certainly played a part in his struggles, it\u2019s hard to overlook the fact that his overall production cratered.<\/p>\n

\"Yankees
Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Tough Decisions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If Judge truly has the team\u2019s best interests at heart, he might want to reconsider getting involved in roster decisions like this one. At the end of the day, a player\u2019s performance on the field should drive these calls, not sentiment or loyalty. The Yankees need to prioritize production over past relationships if they\u2019re going to contend. If the rumors hold any weight, the hope is that Judge\u2019s influence won\u2019t prevent the team from making the tough but necessary decisions moving forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The New York Yankees were reportedly ready to move on from DJ LeMahieu last year, but captain Aaron Judge and other veterans nixed the move<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":30223,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nYankees were reportedly ready to DFA struggling veteran before captain's intervention - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=30222\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Yankees were reportedly ready to DFA struggling veteran before captain's intervention - 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