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.

The New York Yankees announced on Wednesday that they placed infielder DJ LeMahieu (calf) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to March 24) with a left-calf strain. LeMahieu's fantasy stock has fallen off a cliff the last few years. He was injured earlier this month and will not be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season. The good news is that the 36-year-old veteran has been eased into baseball activities, but he's without a timetable for a return. With LeMahieu on the shelf, Oswaldo Cabrera will open the year as the team's starting third baseman. Depending on how Cabrera is playing when LeMahieu is ready to return, it's possible that LeMahieu will be relegated to a bench role as a corner-infield option for the Yanks. The former three-time All-Star and two-time batting champion played in just 67 games in 2024 due to injuries and slashed a lowly .204/.269/.259 with a career-worst .527 OPS.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that infielder DJ LeMahieu (calf) is "moving the needle" in his recovery from a left-calf strain and has been hitting in camp. LeMahieu suffered the calf injury over two weeks ago, and while he appears to be improving, it's likely that he'll start the 2025 regular season on the injured list with Opening Day coming next Thursday. After a disastrous 2024 campaign in which he hit just .204/.269/.259 with two home runs and 26 RBI in only 67 games due to injuries, the 36-year-old veteran's fantasy stock has tanked after his latest calf injury. LeMahieu will be in play for plenty of playing time at third base in the Bronx once he's healthy, but Oswaldo Cabrera is set to open the season there and could keep LeMahieu relegated to more of a bench role if he performs well in the early going. Fantasy managers can avoid LeMahieu in mixed leagues.