Yankees determined to hang onto DJ

If New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has his way, DJ LeMahieu isn't going anywhere.

Cashman told the YES Network on the weekend that the Bronx Bombers intend to retain the American League MVP Award finalist, who became a free agent on Dec 1 after rejecting the team's qualifying offer of a one-year deal worth $18.9 million.

"We're going to try to keep him here," Cashman said. "He loves playing in New York, loves playing for the Yankees and our fan base, and he clearly loves his teammates. There's a lot of things in our favor, but ultimately it comes down to the financial opportunity that we provide, as measured to the financial opportunities that others are providing."

The 32-year-old LeMahieu, one of the most versatile infielders in MLB, is reportedly seeking a five-year deal in the $100 million range. He won the American League batting championship after hitting .364 in the pandemic-shortened season, and has compiled a.336/.386/.536 slash line in 195 games with the Yankees over the past two seasons.

He signed a two-year, $24 million contract as a free agent from the Colorado Rockies before the 2019 campaign.

"Free agency is very complicated and tricky. It's a competition. The dance and the conversations will continue," said Cashman. "We certainly hope for a positive outcome, but it's also possible that there isn't one, so we'll just have to wait and see."

Cashman also said the Yankees are comfortable retaining Gary Sanchez as their No 1 catcher in the upcoming season despite a woeful 2020 campaign that saw him bat just .147/.253/.365 with 10 homers and 24 RBIs in 49 games.

The 28-year-old Sanchez inked a new one-year deal worth $5 million earlier this month.

"We tendered him a contract because we still believe in the talent and player," Cashman told the New York Post on Friday.

"Even though the season ended the way it did (with Sanchez starting just two of seven playoff games), I think (manager) Aaron Boone had to make his decision based on how Gary was playing and what he was representing at the time, which wasn't, we believe, the true version of Gary Sanchez. If that was the true version, I don't believe we would have tendered him a contract."

Cashman said he has been encouraging Sanchez to get more work during the offseason－specifically, winter ball in his native Dominican Republic.

Typically, everyday players are prohibited from playing winter ball if they played a full season, but that rule doesn't apply to this year because of the pandemic.

"I don't have a problem with it," Cashman said. "When the dust settles, hopefully what Gary gets out of the winter-ball experience is a snapback to what we're used to seeing, which is a prolific hitter… and continuing his defensive work."

In 421 MLB games over six seasons－all with the Yankees－Sanchez has compiled a batting average of.236, with 115 home runs and 286 RBI. He has appeared in two All-Star games.