The Yankees went from having one of the worst third base situations in the majors to one of the best — and DJ LeMahieu is the main reason why.
Not just because his inability to play the position this season forced Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to the spot, where he was a below-average defender.
Not just because LeMahieu struggled at the plate and at second base to such an extent that the Yankees released the respected veteran, even with nearly $22 million remaining on his contract through next year.
It’s also because the player who replaced LeMahieu in the Yankees infield, Ryan McMahon, is among the top defensive third basemen in the league and he credits LeMahieu for getting him to that point.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
