Yankees' Aaron Boone gives surprise update on $90 million star's position

The New York Yankees were hoping not to count on much from DJ LeMahieu in 2025, but it already looks as though they need him in some capacity.

The 36-year-old LeMahieu is a three-time All-Star and former batting champion, and the start to his Yankees career was excellent. But his six-year, $90 million extension has proven to be a disaster so far, and it's not over until the end of next season.

LeMahieu was worth -1.6 bWAR to the Yankees in only 67 games last season, a truly disastrous fall-off. Then, he suffered a calf injury in spring training that has prevented him from making his season debut until now.

However, with a relatively thin infield at the moment, it appears the Yankees have high expectations for LeMahieu to contribute when he makes his return, which could come as soon as the end of this week when they head to the west coast.

On Monday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone also said that New York anticipates that LeMahieu could play some second base thanks to the injury to Jazz Chisholm Jr. It's his natural position, but he's barely played there in the last few years.

“Right now, second [base] is more in play with Jazz down for a little bit,” Boone said, per Max Goodman of NJ Advance Media. “He’s here today off his [rehab assignment]. We haven’t sat down and looked at how the week is going to lay out.”

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LeMahieu is a four-time Gold Glover, and three of those came when he was exclusively playing second base. But the Yankees have weaned him off the position; he played only nine games there in 2023 and zero last season.

It's hard for players in their mid-thirties to stay athletic enough to play middle infield. It could be even trickier for LeMahieu, who's dealt with a lot of injury concerns lately. But Boone seems to believe his veteran can figure it out.

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