Yankees' Most Valuable Player DJ LeMahieu Says Team Has Yet to Discuss Extension With Him

The Yankees knew they were acting prudently adding DJ LeMahieu at the tail end of the Manny Machado disappointment last offseason, but they likely had no idea they were adding, by some metrics, their most important player.

LeMahieu's "Machine" nickname was rightly earned by a combination of clutch hits, ruthless efficiency, and robotic line drives, one after another, as if engineered by a higher power.

But just as soon as he arrived, he'll leave, if not properly taken care of -- LeMahieu's exploratory first contract in New York was just a two-year deal. Fans will likely riot if he's not re-signed before the season is out, but LeMahieu confirmed that the two sides haven't really had those discussions yet, ahead of the 2020 campaign kicking off.

LeMahieu hit a patently ridiculous .327 with 26 homers and 102 RBI in 2019, his first season in the American League. That production continued in the postseason; he registered a nearly-identical .325 mark with three bombs, one of which briefly and euphorically tied Game 6 of the ALCS, just prior to us all learning about Jose Altuve's shirt preferences.

LeMahieu puts bat on ball unlike anyone else on the roster, and though the Yankees have plenty of extension-related business to attend to elsewhere, locking up their Machine on a moderate deal for three or four years should be top of the list.