After years of grit, Gold Gloves, and batting titles, DJ LeMahieu’s time in pinstripes had ended with little more than a quiet goodbye. The New York Yankees designated the veteran infielder for assignment on Wednesday. And this officially ends his run in the Bronx now. So no farewell tours, no big send-off—just a roster move that was something everyone knew was coming for a while.

Because let’s be honest—this was not exactly shocking, right? LeMahieu, who just turned 37, has been struggling quite a bit, and he hasn’t looked like himself. A string of leg injuries and a nagging toe issue had robbed him of his trademark—that smooth fielding and that consistent bat.

Now, sure, he was starting to hit better lately; he was batting .300 since May 30. But it seems like the Yankees reached a breaking point and DFA’d him.

The real turning point, for sure, was Jazz Chisholm Jr. moving back to second base. Jazz had mentioned how second was his natural position, and he was not really adapting to the third well. The errors were piling up, and the entire team suffered. But this shuffle pushed DJ into a defensive corner. The team had hoped he would be a steady hand at third base, but his body didn’t keep up. Boone mentioned, “Third base is a physical challenge for DJ.” And hence he was moved. And as for how DJ took the news? “Not great, necessarily,” Boone said.

Yeah, no kidding. LeMahieu was left without a clear role and no spot in the starting infield. No real spot off the bench. Plus, with $22 million still owed on his contract through 2025, the New York Yankees had a brutal but necessary call to make. So they made it. Back in 2021, he had signed a six-year $90 million deal and was seen as one of the team’s most reliable hitters. And for a time, he was that guy. But baseball moves fast, and sometimes sentiment doesn’t survive here—numbers matter.

Now, all that is left is the waiting game—whether DJ clears waivers or finds a new home.

The reality DJ LeMahieu needs to face now

With DJ LeMahieu now placed on waivers, the ball is essentially in his court. But let’s be honest, the outlook is not looking pretty. If a team claims him, he will be added to their active roster. But given his age and his struggles and the millions attached to his name, it is less likely to happen. He clears waivers, and even then, he will face tough decisions.

If he does clear waivers, he will accept a trip to Triple-A or choose free agency. And considering how poorly he took the news of being benched, the latter kind of feels inevitable. This is not the end of the chapter; it is an identity shift for a guy who defined what consistency meant for the Bronx team. As far as how the entire ordeal went, it seems like there was some underlying bitterness, simply because of how Boone’s choice of words has been. When asked how DJ LeMaheiu took the news, he mentioned they were “mutual.”

And talking about the equation with DJ, the slugger said, “I don’t know what’s next necessarily. I just mean a few days of some difficult conversations where, obviously, I’m sure on some levels, he’s not happy about certain things. Hopefully that’s not something that becomes a long-term situation.” Plus, the timing simply didn’t work either. First, Jazz Chisholm Jr. is back, but the Yankees couldn’t wait for weeks for DJ to possibly adjust to third.

The team needed stability, and they needed it now, like the Jays are ahead of them, and that says a lot. Cashman didn’t sugarcoat it at all. Cashman mentioned that, “It’s not something I could leave,” talking about the current roster, which for him works. So now, with the clock ticking and no guarantees, DJ needs to face the hard truth. Does he fight for a fresh start or close the book silently?

Whatever comes next, one thing is that the Yanks have already turned the page. Isn’t it?