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MLB Free Agency: 5 potential landing spots for D.J. LeMahieu

By Rucker Haringey

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 01: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) DJ LeMahieu #26 of the New York Yankees in action against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on August 01, 2020 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 5-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 01: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) DJ LeMahieu #26 of the New York Yankees in action against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on August 01, 2020 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 5-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Blue Jays, Toronto Blue Jays, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – AUGUST 12: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after striking out during the second inning of an MLB game against the Miami Marlins at Sahlen Field on August 12, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team and are playing their home games in Buffalo due to the Canadian government’s policy on COVID-19. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /

The Yankees want to re-sign D.J. LeMahieu in MLB Free Agency, but they will face fierce competition to retain the talented second baseman. 

The two-year, $24 million contract D.J. LeMahieu signed with the Yankees before the 2019 regular season will go down as one of the best bargains in MLB Free Agency. No team is going to get so lucky with the All-Star second baseman this time around. Any team interested in inking LeMahieu this offseason will need to pay him like the superstar player that he is.

His expensive price tag eliminates quite a few teams from having a realistic chance to sign him. It’s also widely believed that LeMahieu only wants to play for a team with a legitimate chance to contend for a World Series title on a regular basis. That narrows the potential landing spots for him further.

LeMahieu will still experience a robust market in free agency. Keep a close eye on the following five teams for landing spots for the Gold Glover.

5. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays are one of a handful of teams that seem to have significant money to spend this offseason. Toronto’s ownership doesn’t seem bothered by the reduction in revenues caused by the current pandemic.

Instead, they want to build a contender as soon as possible. Adding a player of LeMahieu’s caliber to their mix could give them a major boost. Presumably, his arrival would allow the Jays to move Vladimir Guerreiro to first base on a permanent basis. LeMahieu would move to third and give the Toronto infield an immediate upgrade.

The challenge for the Blue Jays will be convincing LeMahieu that they are ready to make this kind of leap as a franchise. Competing in the same division with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays makes it tough for the Blue Jays to build a consistent contender. That’s why they are on the outside of the LeMahieu race unless they’re willing to blow the competition away with a lucrative contract offer.

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