The New York Yankees made a couple key free-agent signings official Wednesday, announcing that infielder DJ LeMahieu is returning to the team on a six-year deal and that Corey Kluber, a two-time Cy Young Award winner coming off two injury-plagued seasons, has signed a one-year free-agent contract.
The agreements with both players were first reported on Jan. 15. LeMahieu, the 2020 American League batting champion, signed his reported $90 million deal, with USA Today reporting that he has full no-trade protection for the 2020 and 2021 seasons and then limited no-trade rights in each season from 2022-25.
The right-handed Kluber will pocket $11 million for his one season with New York in 2021, per multiple outlets.
LeMahieu, 32, won his second career batting title with a .364 average. He also won the National League crown with the Colorado Rockies in 2016 when he hit .348. He is the only player in the Live Ball Era and second in Major League history to win the batting title in both leagues, per the Elias Sports Bureau, joining Hall of Famer Ed Delahanty (won in NL in 1899 and AL in 1902).
LeMahieu is also a three-time Gold Glove winner and a three-time All-Star.
In 50 games during the 2020 season, LeMahieu had 10 home runs and 27 RBI. In addition to leading the majors in hitting, he topped the American League in on-base percentage (.421) and on-base percentage plus slugging (1.011) for the Yankees, who were eliminated by the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Division Series.
In 2019 with New York, LeMahieu batted .327, with 26 homers and 102 RBIs while making the AL All-Star team.
LeMahieu has played 1,150 career games with the Chicago Cubs (2011), Rockies (2012-18) and Yankees. He has a career batting average of .305.
Kluber was the American League Cy Young Award winner with the Cleveland Indians in 2014, when he went 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA, and in 2017, when he finished 18-4 with a major-league-best 2.25 ERA. He was tied for the AL lead in wins during both Cy Young seasons.
In December 2019, the Indians dealt Kluber to the Texas Rangers for center fielder Delino DeShields and right-hander Emmanuel Chase. However, Kluber’s Texas stint lasted just one inning, after he tore a muscle in his pitching shoulder during his 2020 debut on July 26.
The Rangers declined an $18 million team option to retain Kluber in 2021, paying him a $1 million buyout.
In 2019, Kluber started only seven games for Cleveland, going 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA before a line drive broke his right forearm, ending his season.
Kluber, who broke into the majors with the Indians in 2011, has a career 98-58 record with a 3.16 ERA in 209 games (204 starts). He is a three-time All-Star.
(Field Level Media)
