TThe Yankees added another infielder on Friday. And once again, it wasn’t Manny Machado.
The team agreed to a two-year deal worth $24 million with DJ LeMahieu, who can play all four infield positions, but was the Rockies’ starting second baseman the past four seasons.
The Yankees like LeMahieu’s versatility and can see him getting regular playing time in a utility role, since they have Gleyber Torres at second, Miguel Andujar at third and the recently signed Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop, as well as Luke Voit and Greg Bird vying for the first base job.
And that’s before Didi Gregorius returns from Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow, which could happen around midseason.
With all those infielders already in the fold, Machado — one of the two mega free agents this offseason, along with Bryce Harper, who general manager Brian Cashman said is not a fit — now appears to be headed somewhere besides The Bronx.
The Yankees have not said they are no longer pursuing Machado, but there were questions in the organization about how well he would fit and they remain hesitant about giving out another expensive, long-term contract with Giancarlo Stanton still in the fold.
The 26-year-old Machado met with team brass at Yankee Stadium last month, part of a tour that also brought him to Philadelphia, as well as Chicago, where he met with the White Sox.
Throughout the offseason, the Yankees were said to be uninterested in engaging Machado and his agent, Dan Lozano, about a contract in the 10-year, $300 million range and the belief was he would only fall to them if the Phillies and White Sox didn’t come close to those numbers.
According to sources, the Yankees never got far along enough in the talks to offer Machado a contract and they clearly seem to have moved in another direction, both with the signing of Tulowitzki — who they believe can be their starting shortstop even though he is 34 and missed all of last season following surgeries to both heels — and now LeMahieu, who was an All-Star as recently as 2017. Tulowitzki and LeMahieu also played together with the Rockies.
LeMahieu has made his career with his glove instead of his bat. He had a career-year in 2016, when he had an OPS of .911, but it’s a number he has not approached before or since.
He’s also another right-handed bat in a lineup filled with them. And not surprisingly, his numbers have typically been much better at hitter-friendly Coors Field than on the road. For instance, he had an OPS of .793 at home last year and just .698 on the road.
LeMahieu also missed time in 2018 with an oblique injury.
Still, he doesn’t strike out a lot and the Yankees figure to have plenty of offense, not just in the infield, but with Stanton, Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and Gary Sanchez, among others.
Infielder Hanser Alberto, designated for assignment to make room for Zach Britton on the 40-man roster, was claimed off waivers by the Orioles. Alberto was made irrelevant by the signing of LeMahieu.
A.J. Cole was claimed off waivers by the Indians. The right-hander went 3-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 38 innings over 28 appearances last season.
The Yankees also announced the signings of RHP Drew Hutchison and outfielder Mike Lipka to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training.
Hutchison, 28, split last year between the Phillies and Rangers and finished with a 6.75 ERA in 16 appearances — five starts. Hutchison made 60 starts for the Blue Jays in 2014-15, but has mostly struggled since then.
Lipka, 26, spent last season with Double-A Richmond in the Giants organization. He has reached as high as Triple-A.
