Meet the 2019 Yankees: DJ LeMahieu

On January 14^th, 2019 the New York Yankees signed second baseman DJ LeMahieu to a two-year deal worth $24 million. While many said the deal came out of nowhere, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I called it back on October of 2018. I saw something in DJ early on and the New York Yankees obviously did as well, so let’s meet our 2019 New York Yankees. DJ LeMahieu, everybody.

LeMahieu, 30-years old, stands 6’4” and weighs in at 215 lbs. LeMahieu bats from the right side and throws from the right side and will likely be the Yankees starting second baseman for much of the 2019 season, although the Yankees have already instructed DJ to bring “a lot of gloves” with him as the team plans to play him all over the infield.

David John LeMahieu was born on July 13, 1988 in Visalia, California. LeMahieu’s parents moved him and his family out to Michigan where DJ attended Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan. While at the school, DJ played shortstop and pitched for the school’s baseball team before committing to the LSU Tigers at Louisiana State. As a senior, the Detroit Tigers drafted LeMahieu in the 41^st round of the 2007 MLB First Year Players Draft. LeMahieu decided to not sign with Detroit and head to LSU to begin his collegiate career. While at LSU LeMahieu was moved to his natural position of second base during the 2009 season. LeMahieu led the LSU Tigers to the postseason and all the way to the College World Series in 2009 before winning the National Championship and 2009 College World Series All-Tournament Team honors.

The wave of emotions was not done during 2009, not by a long shot, as the Chicago Cubs came calling in the second round, 79^th overall, of the 2009 MLB First Year Players Draft. LeMahieu signed with Chicago and officially began his professional career with the Peoria Chiefs. LeMahieu remained in the Cubs organization through the 2011 season until Chicago traded their second baseman, along with Tyler Colvin, to the Colorado Rockies for Casey Weathers and Ian Stewart. LeMahieu would make his MLB debut with the Rockies the next season after Colorado called DJ up on May 23, 2012 and would remain in the majors after a strong rookie campaign.

LeMahieu would win his first National League Gold Glove Award in 2014 with 16 defensive runs saved for the Rockies. DJ followed that up by being named the National League’s starting second baseman for the All-Star Game in 2015, his first selection to the Mid-Summer Classic, and his first National League batting title in 2016 hitting .348. LeMahieu made another trip to the All-Star Game in 2017, replacing injured second baseman Dee Gordon, while also winning the Fielding Bible Award as well this season. LeMahieu would win his second National League Gold Glove Award in 2018 before hitting the free agent market this winter.

LeMahieu is a great defensive player and a player with opposite field power and control, both of which will fit in well with the Yankees and inside Yankee Stadium. In my opinion we could see LeMahieu hit 20+ home runs this season while hitting at or above the .300 mark while providing Gold Glove Award winning defense all over the field, especially at second base.

DJ, welcome to the organization, welcome to the team, welcome to the big lights and the big city, but most importantly… welcome to the family. 2019 is World Series or bust for New York and their fans, so no pressure.

Minor League Baseball Names 2017 Rawlings Gold Glove Award® Winners

Minor League Baseball Names 2017 Rawlings Gold Glove Award® Winners

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Minor League Baseball and Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., today announced the nine recipients of the 2017 Rawlings Gold Glove Award® for defensive excellence. The winners at each position were selected from players in the 10 domestic-based, full-season Minor Leagues. Each player will receive his own Rawlings Gold Glove Award, modeled after the iconic award given to Major League Baseball’s top defensive players, during the 2018 season.

“The Rawlings Gold Glove Award® is recognized as baseball’s highest measure of defensive excellence and this year’s nine Minor League Baseball recipients are certainly worthy of this incredible honor,” said Mike Thompson, Executive Vice-President of Marketing for Rawlings. “Our long-standing partnership with Minor League Baseball continues to grow and evolve and we’re proud to share this prestigious award platform with its athletes.”

“This group has emerged as the finest in the field at the Minor League level, and I am pleased to honor these nine recipients with a Rawlings Gold Glove Award®,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner. “On behalf of Minor League Baseball, I congratulate each of them on their outstanding seasons.”

The 2017 Minor League Baseball recipients of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award® are as follows:

1B
Edwin Espinal
Altoona (AA), Indianapolis (AAA)
Pittsburgh

2B
Scott Kingery
Reading (AA), Lehigh Valley (AAA)
Philadelphia

SS
Daniel Castro
Albuquerque (AAA)
Colorado

3B
Ke’Bryan Hayes
Bradenton (A)
Pittsburgh

LF
Tyler Ramirez
Stockton (A), Midland (AA)
Oakland

CF
Jacob Hannemann
Tennessee (AA), Iowa (AAA)
Chicago (NL), Seattle

RF
Max Murphy
Fort Myers (A), Chattanooga (AA)
Minnesota

C
Jose Trevino
Frisco (AA)
Texas

P
Jordan Kipper
Mobile (AA), Bowie (AA), Norfolk (AAA)
Los Angeles (AL), Baltimore

Edwin Espinal posted the only perfect fielding percentage among Minor League first basemen in 2017. Espinal, 23, played 81 games at first base and recorded 698 putouts as an Eastern League All-Star with Double-A Altoona. He was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on July 28, finishing the year with 27 errorless games and 208 putouts as the Indians’ first baseman. A native of Mao Valverde, Dominican Republic, Espinal was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 27, 2011.

Second baseman Scott Kingery recorded a .989 fielding percentage in 113 games, the highest mark among second basemen in Minor League Baseball. The 23-year-old handled 277 total chances in 59 games for Double-A Reading, and 252 more in 54 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, helping turn 75 double plays across the two levels. Kingery was selected by the Phillies in the second round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Arizona.
Albuquerque Isotopes shortstop Daniel Castro led all Minor League Baseball shortstops with a .989 fielding percentage in 96 games. Castro committed just five errors in 435 total chances, had a hand in 63 double plays and finished with 298 assists at shortstop. The 24-year-old from Guaymas, Mexico, signed with Colorado as a minor league free agent on November 21, 2016. He was originally signed by the Atlanta Braves in 2010.

Bradenton Marauders third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes posted a .974 fielding percentage in 108 games at the hot corner. The 20-year-old committed only eight errors in 307 total chances, recording 245 assists. Hayes was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball, Texas.
Tyler Ramirez played 100 of his 128 defensive games in left field, and did not commit an error in 168 total chances with Class-A Stockton and Double-A Midland, finishing with a 1.000 fielding percentage. The Oakland Athletics selected Ramirez in the seventh round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Center fielder Jacob Hannemann recorded a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 106 games, handling 240 total chances. The 26-year-old opened the season with Double-A Tennessee, and was promoted to Triple-A Iowa before the Seattle Mariners claimed him off waivers and brought him to the big leagues in September. Hannemann was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the third round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Brigham Young University.
Max Murphy did not commit an error in 75 games in right field, nor in his 52 games in center, and recorded 18 outfield assists between Class-A Fort Myers and Double-A Chattanooga. Murphy, 24, secured 150 total chances across 669.2 total innings in right field. The Minnesota native was selected by the Twins in the ninth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Bradley University.

Catcher Jose Trevino earned a Rawlings Gold Glove for the second straight season after the 24-year-old finished with a .996 fielding percentage behind the plate. Trevino, 24, allowed just three passed balls while catching 99 games this year for Double-A Frisco. Trevino also limited the running game, throwing out 41.3 percent (33 of 80) of would-be base stealers. Trevino was selected by the Rangers in the sixth round 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Oral Roberts University.

Pitcher Jordan Kipper posted a perfect fielding percentage while handling 42 total chances in 132.1 innings pitched over 26 appearances (19 starts). The 24-year-old opened the season in Double-A Mobile before a trade on May 6 sent him to the Baltimore Orioles organization, where he appeared in nine games for Double-A Bowie and 12 for Triple-A Norfolk. Kipper was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the ninth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Texas Christian University.

The Dee Gordon Extension and Didi Gregorius

The Miami Marlins may finally be doing things right as an organization. So many times in the past we’ve seen the team “buy” players and a championship here or there only to have a fire sale the next season so team owner Jeffrey Loria can presumably line his pockets with money. That’s another blog post for another day though and the team is getting a bit of a pass for the past after locking up players like Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and most recently Dee Gordon to long term deals. Gordon signed a five-year deal with an option for a sixth leaving many to wonder if the Yankees should consider doing this now with some of their young guys, namely Didi Gregorius.

Gordon was under team control through the 2018 season before signing this new deal that extends five years and is worth $50 million before an option year for a sixth season. Gordon will receive a hefty raise annually from his $2.5 million he made in 2015 but don’t let it be confused, Gordon deserved it and this is still an absolute bargain for Miami. Gordon won the National league batting title in 2015 after leading the league with 205 hits and 58 stolen bases. Gordon finished the season batting .333 despite missing 17 games of the season with a thumb injury. Gordon was an All-Star for the second time in 2015 and was chosen as Miami’s MVP after leading all second baseman in fielding percentage as well at batting.

Gordon was great in 2015 and while Didi was good he wasn’t Gordon. I’m in no way comparing the two I am merely comparing their situations as middle infielders who had breakout seasons respectively. I am only mentioning this now rather than in a year or two after the team evaluates whether they are getting the Gregorius that played the first two months of the season in the Bronx or the Didi that played the final four months inside Yankee Stadium. If New York wants to save a few dollars though, and it’s obvious that they do, they may want to take the opportunity to pounce now while the iron is hot and not smoldering.

Didi did not lead in fielding percentage nor did he lead the league in hitting but without the first month and a half to two months of the season he quietly had a fantastic season. Truth be told, and this may be the Yankees homer in me talking, he should have won the Gold Glove at the position in 2015 and should have received more praise for the offensive work he did the second half of the season. Locking him up now would cost the Yankees in the short term but I truly believe it would save them a lot of money and a lot of heartache later on down the road. Using Gordon’s deal as a starting point would not be the worst thing in the world for either side but if it’s going to happen it needs to happen now. 

Using the Brandon Crawford Extension w/ Didi Gregorius

Apparently winning a Gold Glove Award is a lot more lucrative then it used to be in Major League Baseball, just ask Brandon Crawford. Crawford won a Gold Glove Award at shortstop for the National League last week and was rewarded for it this week with a new six-year contract that will take him through the 2021 season and pay him $75 million.

Obviously there was a lot more to the extension for Crawford and the Giants then just the Gold Glove but there are at least some similarities that the New York Yankees can potentially use if they choose to extend their shortstop Didi Gregorius. This will be the ultimate test of who actually reads the article and who just see’s the title and runs with it because I’m not suggesting the Yankees extend him until after the 2016 or 2017 season, not today,  with some obvious stipulations included. Health is obviously one and the second, and largest, is that his production both at the plate and in the field look more like what they looked like in the final four months of the season and less like the first month-and-a-half to two months.

San Francisco essentially bought out the final two years of arbitration that Crawford was owed and four years of free agency. Crawford, now 28-years old, batted .256 with 21 home runs and 84 RBI for San Francisco this season including his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award along with his first trip to the All-Star Game. Crawford now has four seasons under his belt, to Didi’s just one full season in 2015, and has played in at least 143 games in each of them after making his MLB debut in May of 2011. Crawford has already helped the Giants win the World Series in 2012 and 2014 so obviously Didi has some catching up to do but this sets the tone for future talks between Gregorius and the Yankees on an extension.

I’m not saying the Yankees should extend Didi today, they should absolutely wait another full season or two and truly see what they have in Gregorius, but I like the idea of paying him sooner rather than overpaying, or potentially losing him, later. I’m personally keeping my eyes on this situation and following it closely. 

Would Alexei Ramirez Be Any Better Than Brendan Ryan?

The Chicago White Sox announced this week that the team has declined the $10 million option on shortstop and former All-Star Alexei Ramirez. The team will instead pay the Cuban-born star a $1 million buyout thus making him a free agent. With the Yankees uncertainty on the bench and the team’s constant need to upgrade, even marginally, would Ramirez be worth signing and putting on the bench at the expense of a $1 million DFA in Brendan Ryan?

Ramirez is currently 34-years old and has played his entire MLB career with the Chicago White Sox after defecting from Cuba. Ramirez is a career .273 hitter with 109 career home runs and 542 RBI in eight seasons. Ramirez was an All-Star as recently as 2014 but age, Mother Nature, a bad White Sox team around him, a lack of motivation or a combination of the four key items here contributed to Ramirez falling off in 2015. Ramirez finished the season batting a career-low .249 with 10 home runs and 62 RBI leading the team to buy out his contract. Would Ramirez be an upgrade over Ryan?

The Yankees presumably have two things in mind this season while they are building their bench. They need defensive versatility, flexibility and ability while also looking to add some right-handed pop into the lineup somehow, someway. Ryan has been considered to be a defensive wizard over his career but I haven’t seen it the last two seasons with the ball club. Ramirez is not going to win you any Gold Glove Awards anytime soon but the offensive edge goes to Ramirez and it’s not even close. Ramirez can play shortstop and third base, the two positions the Yankees need backup help at the most, albeit not as well as Ryan but well enough to justify carrying his bat for 162 games.

Would Ramirez accept a bench role and a spot on the Yankees? That remains to be seen but I can’t see the Ryan contract of $1 million stopping the Yankees from upgrading if they can. If that upgrade brings Ramirez to the Bronx, great. If it doesn’t then Ryan isn’t half bad himself in a small sample size I guess. 

No Yankees Win a Gold Glove Award

Mark Teixeira, Brett Gardner and Didi Gregorius were up for the American League Gold Glove Awards for their respective positions and none of them won the award. Here is the complete list of Gold Glove Award winners for the American and National League's.

CATCHER

AL: Salvador Perez, Royals
NL: Yadier Molina, Cardinals

FIRST BASE

AL: Eric Hosmer, Royals
NL: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks

SECOND BASE

AL: Jose Altuve, Astros
NL: Dee Gordon, Marlins

SHORTSTOP

AL: Alcides Escobar, Royals
NL: Brandon Crawford, Giants

THIRD BASE

AL: Manny Machado, Orioles
NL: Nolan Arenado, Rockies

LEFT FIELD

AL: Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers/Mets
NL: Starling Marte, Pirates

CENTER FIELD

AL: Kevin Kiermaier, Rays
NL: A.J. Pollock, Diamondbacks

RIGHT FIELD

AL: Kole Calhoun, Angels
NL: Jason Heyward, Cardinals

PITCHER

AL: Dallas Keuchel, Astros
NL: Zack Greinke, Dodgers

My 2015 AL & NL Gold Glove Award Predictions

The player I think will win the award is bolded below. Leave yours in the comments section.



AMERICAN LEAGUE

Pitcher: Mark Buehrle (Blue Jays), Sonny Gray (A’s), Dallas Keuchel (Astros)

Catcher: Jason Castro (Astros), Russell Martin (Blue Jays), Salvador Perez (Royals)

First base: Eric Hosmer (Royals), Mike Napoli (Rangers), Mark Teixeira (Yankees)

Second base: Jose Altuve (Astros), Brian Dozier (Twins), Ian Kinsler (Tigers)

Third base: Adrian Beltre (Rangers), Evan Longoria (Rays), Manny Machado (Orioles)

Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox), Alcides Escobar (Royals), Didi Gregorius (Yankees)

Left field: Yoenis Cespedes (formerly Tigers), Brett Gardner (Yankees), Alex Gordon (Royals)

Center field: Kevin Kiermaier (Rays), Kevin Pillar (Blue Jays), Mike Trout (Angels)

Right field: Kole Calhoun (Angels), J.D. Martinez (Tigers), Josh Reddick (A’s)


NATIONAL LEAGUE

Pitcher: Jake Arrieta (Cubs), Gerrit Cole (Pirates), Zack Greinke (Dodgers)

Catcher: Yadier Molina (Cardinals), Buster Posey (Giants), Wilson Ramos (Nationals)

First base: Brandon Belt (Giants), Paul Goldschmidt (D-backs), Adrian Gonzalez (Dodgers)

Second base: Dee Gordon (Marlins), DJ LeMahieu (Rockies), Brandon Phillips (Reds)

Third base: Nolan Arenado (Rockies), Matt Duffy (Giants), Todd Frazier (Reds)

Shortstop: Brandon Crawford (Giants), Adeiny Hechavarria (Marlins), Andrelton Simmons (Braves)

Left field: Starling Marte (Pirates), Justin Upton (Padres), Christian Yelich (Marlins)

Center field: Billy Hamilton (Reds), Andrew McCutchen (Pirates), A.J. Pollock (D-backs)

Right field: Curtis Granderson (Mets), Bryce Harper (Nationals), Jason Heyward (Cardinals)

Three Yankees In Running for Gold Glove Awards

Three members of the New York Yankees are in the running for the American League Gold Glove Awards in 2015. Those three players are shortstop Didi Gregorius, first baseman Mark Teixeira and left fielder Brett Gardner. Here is the rest of the field courtesy of Lohud. 



AMERICAN LEAGUE

Pitcher: Mark Buehrle (Blue Jays), Sonny Gray (A’s), Dallas Keuchel (Astros)

Catcher: Jason Castro (Astros), Russell Martin (Blue Jays), Salvador Perez (Royals)

First base: Eric Hosmer (Royals), Mike Napoli (Rangers), Mark Teixeira (Yankees)

Second base: Jose Altuve (Astros), Brian Dozier (Twins), Ian Kinsler (Tigers)

Third base: Adrian Beltre (Rangers), Evan Longoria (Rays), Manny Machado (Orioles)

Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox), Alcides Escobar (Royals), Didi Gregorius (Yankees)

Left field: Yoenis Cespedes (formerly Tigers), Brett Gardner (Yankees), Alex Gordon (Royals)

Center field: Kevin Kiermaier (Rays), Kevin Pillar (Blue Jays), Mike Trout (Angels)

Right field: Kole Calhoun (Angels), J.D. Martinez (Tigers), Josh Reddick (A’s)

—

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Pitcher: Jake Arrieta (Cubs), Gerrit Cole (Pirates), Zack Greinke (Dodgers)

Catcher: Yadier Molina (Cardinals), Buster Posey (Giants), Wilson Ramos (Nationals)

First base: Brandon Belt (Giants), Paul Goldschmidt (D-backs), Adrian Gonzalez (Dodgers)

Second base: Dee Gordon (Marlins), DJ LeMahieu (Rockies), Brandon Phillips (Reds)

Third base: Nolan Arenado (Rockies), Matt Duffy (Giants), Todd Frazier (Reds)

Shortstop: Brandon Crawford (Giants), Adeiny Hechavarria (Marlins), Andrelton Simmons (Braves)

Left field: Starling Marte (Pirates), Justin Upton (Padres), Christian Yelich (Marlins)

Center field: Billy Hamilton (Reds), Andrew McCutchen (Pirates), A.J. Pollock (D-backs)

Right field: Curtis Granderson (Mets), Bryce Harper (Nationals), Jason Heyward (Cardinals)

Weekly Check in: Robert Refsnyder

We have more on Robert Refsnyder a little later so I’ll keep this short and sweet. Stephen Drew sucks, I’ve said it numerous times throughout the course of his Yankees tenure and I will continue to say it until his Yankees career comes to a close. The Yankees are in a unique situation this season where they can add and upgrade to their team pretty much more than any other team in the month of July without selling off top prospects. The Yankees are in first place in the American League East Division and just added closer Andrew Miller and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury to the team and now have one more glaring hole to address, second base.

Refsnyder is light years ahead of Drew offensively and quickly closing the gap defensively on the Yankees incumbent second baseman. When you have a great first baseman in Mark Teixeira and a shortstop with a ton of range and speed that can cheat an extra step or two to his left in Didi Gregorius the Yankees wouldn’t miss that much defensively. Not to take all the blame off Refsnyder but you have to remember that the first baseman he is throwing to in the minor leagues, Kyle Roller, is here for his offense. His defense is borderline atrocious and he lacks the special sort of defense that Teixeira harnesses at first base every day. How many errors, hits and runs does Teixeira save every single season with his defense?

Refsnyder wouldn’t be Willie Randolph at second base but I don’t think he would be a young and promising Derek Jeter defensively either. Drew’s days are numbered, that much is clear, but whether the team signs another player to block Refsnyder or if the year of the prospect continues remains to be seen. Let’s hope for the latter.

Offense:

Year	Lev	G	PA	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2015	AAA	80	360	45	88	16	7	36	10	43	44	.287	.383	.407	.790

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Defense:

Year	Lev		G	Ch	PO	A	E	DP	Fld%	RF/G
2015	AAA	2B	72	376	141	222	13	49	.965	5.04

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table