The New York Yankees have signed a six-year contract worth $ 90 million to keep DJ LeMahieu, the reigning champion of the American league.
Also Wednesday, the club struck a $ 11 million deal to add right-back Corey Kluber in turn and reached a $ 2.5 million one-year deal with another right-hander, quarterback Darren O’Day. ., Specialist in underwater ball.
Combined with the deal agreed Sunday to acquire right-back Jameson Taillon from the Pittsburgh Pirates for four prospects, the trades meet many of New York’s goals for this offseason. The Yankees are looking to improve after being eliminated by Tampa Bay in the previous postseason.
LeMahieu, who turns 33 in July, was a champion in both leagues. The winner of the field won his first AL title last year with an average of .364, the highest for a .365 Young Circuit beating champion set by Joe Mauer in 2009 with Minnesota.
In 2016, LeMahieu was the NL battle champion with Colorado.
Three-time All-Star, LeMahieu signed a two-year, $ 24 million contract with the Yankees in January 2019. He had 10 home runs and 27 RBIs during the shortened 2020 season, after hit .327 with 26 homers. And 102 RBIs during his first season in New York.
Kluber, the 2014 and 17th American League Cy Young winner, scored 56 victories with Cleveland from 2016 to 2018. He missed the entire 2019 season after being hit in the right forearm on May 1 by a ball tied by Brian Anderson from Miami.
It was 2-3 with an ERA of 5.80 in seven starts.
Marketed in Texas after the season, Kluber broke a muscle in his right shoulder on July 26, in his Rangers debut. His campaign was limited to one half.
The injury did not require surgery.
O’Day would fill the vacancy in the bullpen on Monday, when the Yankees changed him to right Adam Ottavino, who will play in Boston. That barter took $ 7.15 million out of the Yankees’ payroll.