With 13 days until the scheduled Opening Day match in Washington, the Yankees don’t know whether they will get second All-Star baseman DJ LeMahieu back from the injury list.
Like pitcher Luis Cessa, LeMahieu tested positive for COVID-19 before spring 2.0 training opened last week and was quarantined at home. Until they each pass the intake test at Yankee Stadium, no one can start exercising.
Do not have LeMahieu – All-Star three times who have won three Gold Gloves in second base and finished fourth in the AL MVP vote last year after reaching 0.327 with 26 homers and 102 RBI – will be a serious blow to the Yankees. Regardless of who manager Aaron Boone plays second, he will not be LeMahieu on the pitch or on the plate.
Before Thursday night’s intrasquad match at Yankee Stadium, Boone was encouraged about where LeMahieu, who was 32 on Monday, physically but discussed the possibility of needing charging.
“DJ, like any player, I would feel happy about where he is – how he takes care of himself and is ready to go. If anyone can handle going out at the start of the camp, it might be a DJ, “Boone said on a Zoom call.” He worked tirelessly during quarantine in Tampa. He was ready to leave, and he didn’t feel sick. That wasn’t something that had destroyed him. I really feel happy with a player who can take it when it’s time to come back. “
DJs LeMahieu and Tyler Wade Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post, Robert Sabo
When was, of course, unknown. It is not impossible that the Yankees will move Gleyber Torres from shortstop back to seconds after treating him to replace Didi Gregory briefly, the position Torres played in the minor leagues and in 77 matches (73 starts) a year ago when Gregory was absent.
Before LeMahieu was declared positive, Tyler Wade decided to make a 30-player roster because he was able to play shortstop, second, third base, on the field and provide speed as a pinch runner. Now, a 25-year-old who hits his left hand can become the second baseman until LeMahieu returns.
“We have a lot of confidence in Tyler, especially how he will have an impact on the defensive game there,” said Boone about Wade, who has played second in 59 major league games but hasn’t reached (.197 in 109 matches) in limited playing time.
Boone did not stop with Wade, who seemed to be pioneering for LeMahieu’s place.
“We have confidence in Thairo Estrada, Rosell Herrera clearly impressed us with his spring, and we brought in Matt Duffy, who can understand the mix, an established big league player,” Boone said.
Estrada is the only one of three on the 40-person list.
“We feel we have an option there if we have to start the season without a DJ,” Boone said.
29-year-old Duffy is very interesting because, when he is healthy, the infielder who hits his right hand is already productive. However, beyond 2015 with the Giants (.295 BA) and 2018 as Ray (.294), Duffy has been limited by injuries but is still a career of .282 hitters with an on-base percentage of 0.338.
He played 91 games in 2016 and spent all 2017 with the Achilles tendon problem. Last season he played 46 matches for Sinar and signed a minor league contract with Rangers at the end of the season. He was in the Yankees camp as a non-register invitation. Of the 452 matches played by Duffy in the majors, 377 of them were third and 18 (12 starts) in second.
As for Wade, he just wants to play more than he has since reaching the big league in 2017.
“I prepare every day to play every day, whether it’s short, second or wherever it will be,” Wade said before starting the brief for the Yankees on Thursday night. “Unfortunately, the DJ isn’t here, and there are vacancies. I got my representatives in all fields and all fields. Right now I am ready to play every day and whatever they need me to do. “
