According to a recent report by Tim Brown of Yahoo, top free agent infielder DJ LeMahieu is reopening negotiations with the Toronto Blue Jays, among other clubs, after becoming frustrated with the slow pace of negotiations with the New York Yankees.
So far, the New York Mets have been the only club to spend freely during the 2021 free agency period, while the San Diego Padres are rumored to be working on a long-term extension for star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. LeMahieu and 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner* Trevor Bauer, the biggest free agent targets for 2021, have yet to sign deals.
According to Brown’s source, LeMahieu would like to take meetings this week with several clubs that are looking to fill vacancies at second and third base. The Blue Jays should be one of these clubs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was moved to first base by the Jays during the 2020 season, has posted four errors in 61.0 innings at third for the Leones del Escogido in LIDOM (Dominican Winter League) action with an underwhelming fielding percentage of 0.857.
LeMahieu has been one of the top players in the major leagues over the last two seasons. In 2020, he led MLB in BA with .364 while also posting the best OPS in the American League of 1.011 (177 OPS+). His asking price is apparently in the range of five years and $110 million, lower than the $150 million deal cheating center fielder George Springer has been seeking. After missing out when the Cleveland franchise put Francisco Lindor on the trade block, the Jays should go all-in on LeMahieu in order to solidify the 2021 roster.
Featured Image: DJ LeMahieu, second baseman for the Colorado Rockies, at Petco Park in San Diego, California on September 21,2017 by Keeton Gale / Shutterstock.com.
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