DJ LeMahieu DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that infielder DJ LeMahieu (calf) could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next Tuesday. LeMahieu tweaked his calf in spring training and was forced to begin the regular season on the injured list, but he's been taking at-bats at extended spring training in Florida and appears to be ready to play in minor-league games. Boone said that the 36-year-old will need a full build-up once he starts his rehab assignment, so the oft-injured LeMahieu almost certainly won't make his 2025 debut for the Yankees in April after missing most of spring training. When LeMahieu does come off the injured list, whenever that may be, he won't be guarantee regular playing time if he's not producing. His best path to playing time in the Bronx will be at the hot corner. The two-time batting champion hit just .204 last year and was limited to 67 games due to injuries.

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (calf) has rejoined the team in Detroit for their series this week against the Tigers. LeMahieu will work out in Motown for the next three days, and if that goes well, he will start a minor-league rehab assignment on Friday. Given the fact that LeMahieu played in just one spring training game and hasn't yet been cleared for a rehab assignment, we shouldn't expect him to make his 2025 debut in the Bronx until early May. And even when that finally happens, the 36-year-old veteran infielder won't be guaranteed regular at-bats at a corner-infield spot for the Yankees. When he's back with the Yankees, LeMahieu will be competing primarily for playing time at third with Oswaldo Cabrera. The two-time batting champion and three-time All-Star played in only 67 games due to injuries in 2024 and barely hit above the Mendoza Line.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Thursday that infielder DJ LeMahieu (calf) is "about a week away" from taking live at-bats as he recovers from a left-calf strain that he suffered in spring training. "It would be a pretty big build-up, I'd want him to have a spring training," Boone said when asked about a timeline for LeMahieu's return. It sounds as though the Yankees don't expect the 36-year-old veteran to be back with the big-league squad during the month of April, which is good news for Oswaldo Cabrera, who has been serving as the Yankees' primary third baseman to begin the year. LeMahieu, a three-time All-Star and two-time MLB batting champion, played in only 67 games in 2024 due to injuries and has fallen off a cliff offensively in recent years. He hit just .204/.269/.259 with two homers when on the field last year and won't be guaranteed consistent playing time when he returns to the Bronx.