Mets Rumors: A battle of New York could be brewing for DJ LeMahieu

The latest New York Mets rumors involve the potential for a cross-town battle between the Mets and Yankees for free agent DJ LeMahieu this offseason.

In an interesting development on Tuesday afternoon, it was reported by MLB Insider Jon Heyman that the New York Mets had recently contacted free-agent infielder DJ LeMahieu. While there haven’t been many Mets rumors connecting LeMahieu to the organization up to this point, it’s now certainly a situation worth monitoring as the New York Yankees have been unable to find common ground towards a contract with LeMahieu.

If the front office plans to get involved in the bidding for the 32-year old LeMahieu, it will certainly set up a free agent battle between both the Yankees and Mets that we have rarely seen. Who would’ve ever predicted at the onset of 2020 that there would be Mets rumors swirling about the organization potentially attempting to poach arguably the Yankees’ most valuable player over the last two seasons? If you did, I’ve got some oceanfront property in Idaho to sell you.

But back to the subject at hand. If the Mets were to hypothetically sign LeMahieu it would provide them with the flexibility to play him at either the hot corner with Jeff McNeil playing his natural position at second base or LeMahieu would take over second base with McNeil sliding over to third base. The first option seems to be more realistic as McNeil has had his fair share of issues defensively at third base in the past.

Currently, LeMahieu’s reported asking price is five years and $125 million, and to this point, it’s been speculated by insiders that the Yankees are only willing to go four years and $100 million. This all could be posturing on the Mets end to drive up LeMahieu’s price, but it also could be the front office conducting it’s due diligence as the George Springer situation seems to be moving at a glacial pace despite numerous Mets rumors pointing to the organization being the favorites since Thanksgiving.

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It’s been a slow-moving winter to this point and until one of the bigger dominoes on the free-agent market falls, expect more Mets rumors to continue to connect the organization to all of the top free agents currently available.