Though the New York Yankees have effectively kept pace this offseason and remained in the contention conversation for 2025 after making a number of moves, there’s still a lot left to be desired among the fanbase.

When you take into account there isn’t a concrete solution for second or third base (all while left field remains a bit of a question mark with Jasson Dominguez), it’s looking like another year where the Yankees will somehow be fielding an incomplete starting lineup.

Per reports, the hope is that Jazz Chisholm moves back to second base while DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera either platoon at third base or battle it out for the starting gig during spring training. It’s just incomprehensible at this point knowing what we know about the players involved.

Cabrera is best deployed as a super utility player who gets regular reps on a weekly basis. Meanwhile, LeMahieu is no longer a serviceable major leaguer, no matter what the team says. And what do you know? Manager Aaron Boone decided to comment on that recently.

Boone responded to fans “counting out” LeMahieu for 2025 by doing the front office’s dirty work so they won’t have to waste more money this coming season.

“It wasn’t long ago when DJ was one of the best hitters in the American League,” Boone told Max Goodman of NJ.com. “I just want to remind people that the reason he hasn’t is because he’s not been healthy. With health, we think there’s that great hitter still in there a little bit.”

Actually … it was long ago! 2020 to be exact. That’s five years since LeMahieu’s been relevant. He has not appeared in a single playoff game since signing his extension after the 2020 season. Not only that, but for Boone to essentially discount the health aspect here is what’ll make everybody furious.

Actually, it was “long ago” that DJ LeMahieu made real impact with Yankees

Yes, the reason LeMahieu has been bad/unable to perform is because he’s dealt with various injuries since 2021. Those have limited him to 478 games out of a possible 648. He’s also been good for a 4.8 WAR over that span, which averages out to 1.2 per season. For reference, an average full-time position player is worth about 2 WAR, per FanGraphs.

And forget about the metrics. LeMahieu has failed the eye test miserably over the last four seasons as well, which is really all the evidence anybody needs. His injuries have largely robbed him of his abilities, so for the Yankees to assume he’ll bounce back in his age-36 season after he’s failed to come anywhere close to his All-Star campaigns is irresponsible and more of the same.

He’s completely lost his power and contact abilities. He can’t run. He has limited range in the field. He’s, at best, a veteran bench presence who can fill in for 100 games when others need rest. But he’s not a starter. He’s not an impact player. He should be nowhere near this team when October arrives.

But against the Yankees’ better judgement, they will of course cross their fingers and toes for a healthy season from an oft-injured player whose best days are so far gone that barely anybody remembers the impact he once had.