Yankees' D.J. LeMahieu not focused on impending free agency

Contract discussions among players and Major League Baseball organizations are at a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic, but one player, in particular, isn't focused on signing a new deal at the moment. 

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu is set to become a free agent in November, but that's the last thing on his mind as we are likely approaching another month without baseball.

“I don’t know how free agency is going to go. I’m more concerned with this season,’’ LeMahieu said in an email exchange with The New York Post, according to George A. King III. “Hopefully we can get out there on the field soon and play as many games as possible this season. I think it would be a huge boost for New York and our country.’’

LeMahieu's first year with the Yankees in 2019 was his best since the 2016 season, when he hit .348. The 31-year-old infielder batted .327 with 102 RBIs, 26 home runs and a .893 OPS last season. He earned career-highs in RBIs and home runs and propelled himself to an All-Star appearance and Silver Slugger award.

It's hard to imagine the Yankees pass up the opportunity to re-sign LeMahieu, especially considering how well he performed last season. However, the current climate will make for a very different free agency landscape and LeMahieu, like many others, may earn less than what he would've made originally.

While MLB proposed an 82-game schedule to the players' union this week, an agreement on the shortened 2020 campaign doesn't seem to be in sight.