The Yankees have extended a qualifying offer to 2020 major league batting champion DJ LeMahieu, the team announced Sunday.
LeMahieu, a 32-year-old second baseman, has the right to decline the $18.9 million offer and become a free agent. New York will receive draft compensation in 2021 if LeMahieu leaves via free agency. He earned $16.4 million in his two seasons with the Yankees.
In 50 games this past season, LeMahieu batted .364, with 10 homers and 27 runs batted in. 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 RBI while making the AL All-Star team.
LeMahieu, who led the National League in batting in 2016 with a .348 average for the Colorado Rockies, has said he wants to remain with the Yankees.
“I want to stay here. I’ve said that a few times,” LeMahieu said in September. “I thought I was going to stay in Colorado, and I didn’t. I’m hoping to be back here. You just never know how it goes.”
LeMahieu was a two-time All-Star during his tenure with the Rockies from 2012-18.
The Yankees didn’t extend a qualifying offer to right-handed pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, who turned 32 on Sunday. Tanaka was 3-3 with a 3.56 earned-run average in 10 starts for the team this past season.