Where the Yankees Stand After LeMahieu, Kluber Signings
Last week the New York Yankees dealt for DJ LeMahieu and Corey Kluber. These moves were made just hours apart, breaking the Yankees’ stagnant offseason. Where do they stand in the MLB after these signings?
Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman made it clear all offseason that re-signing infielder LeMahieu was their main goal.
“We’ve been public with our strong interest in retaining DJ LeMahieu and he’s been a great Yankee,” said Cashman during a zoom meeting Q & A with reporters. “He’s done everything above and beyond, both on the field and in the clubhouse.”
LeMahieu has done nothing but produce in his two seasons with the Yankees. Over 195 games, he’s hit for a .336 average, had a .386 on base percentage, and a .922 on base plus slugging. In 2020 he led all of baseball in each of those categories.
The Yankees’ offences the last couple seasons have been some of the best, if not the best in all of baseball. LeMahieu is a big piece to that lineup, and with him back they should continue to make opposing pitchers scared out of their minds.
The Yankees were expected to deal for a big name pitcher, and Kluber was just that. He’s missed most of the last two seasons due to injuries, but the Yankees are still willing to take a chance on him because of his success prior to those injuries.
Kluber has won two Cy Young awards, and has been a top three finalist for it four times. The 34 year old has a career earned run average of 3.16, to go along with a 98–58 record.
If Kluber returns to how he was before his injuries, the Yankees rotation will be very scary. To go along with him, it will contain Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery, Domingo German, and Deivi Garcia. Luis Severino will return to the team around June, as he is coming off of Tommy John Surgery. And we are waiting to see if they will re-sign Masahiro Tanaka as he is still a free agent.
After these deals, it seems like the Yankees are favorites to win the American League east. It would be no surprise to see them take a trip to the World Series, as their lineup and rotation could go against any other in baseball.
