Yankees Third Base Outlook in Question After Latest Injury

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu underwent an MRI after tweaking his calf during his spring debut. On Thursday, he told reporters, including Greg Joyce of the New York Post, that he has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 or 2 calf strain. While there is no official timetable, he is expected to miss multiple weeks without any baseball activity. This marks his fifth consecutive season dealing with injuries.

“Couple weeks at least,” LeMahieu said in the clubhouse at Steinbrenner Field.

LeMahieu’s injury is the third the Yankees are dealing with. Right-hander Luis Guil will be sidelined for three months due to a lat strain and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton would have surgery on his elbows as a last resort, according to general manager Brian Cashman.

DJ LeMahieu Diagnosed with Calf Strain, Out for Weeks

LeMahieu, 36, played in 67 games last season due to a broken foot early in the year and a hip impingement late in the year. When he did play, he wasn’t that effective, slashing .204/.269/.259 that added up to a dismal -1.6 bWAR, one of the worst marks in baseball. LeMahieu was part of the Yankees spring third-base competition, but it was unlikely if he would be a full-time player there. In LeMahieu’s place, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza are expected to handle the hot corner. Peraza is a right-handed hitter whereas Cabrera is a switch-hitter who is better against right-handed pitchers. Together, they could make for a solid platoon option.

LeMahieu is in the fifth year of a six-year, $90 million contract. He originally joined the Yankees on a two-year, $24 million contract in Janaury 2019. That deal was a good suuccess, with LeMahieu putting up 8.3 bWAR and finished in the top four of the MVP voting both times. In the first four years of the six-year contract, he has a 7.8 bWAR.