The New York Yankees have released designated hitter DJ LeMahieu from his contract, marking an end to a chapter in his career with the team that many had predicted was inevitable. The move comes after a series of injuries made it difficult for LeMahieu to fulfill his role as a starter.
LeMahieu’s struggles began three years ago, when he suffered a hip injury and missed significant time on the field. Since then, he has dealt with various issues including foot and toe problems, ultimately limiting him to mostly playing second base this season.
The Yankees’ decision was not taken lightly, and general manager Brian Cashman acknowledged that there was no right time for the move. “There’s no right time to do any moves,” Cashman said. “But just felt like this probably isn’t going to be the best circumstance moving forward.”
Cashman expressed hope that LeMahieu could still find success in the league, but ultimately deemed it in the team’s best interest to move on. The Yankees will now have a combination of Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas filling third base until they can acquire a new player by the July 31 trade deadline.
LeMahieu’s release marks an end to a career with the Yankees that was marked by significant production, including two All-Star appearances. Despite his struggles in recent years, Cashman praised LeMahieu as a “great person” and a player who has done “great things” for the organization.
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/07/09/sports/yankees-dfa-former-all-star-dj-lemahieu-after-benching