What the Rockies owner told the Yankees owner about DJ LeMahieu

Earlier this week, we learned an interesting piece of advice given from Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort to New York Yankees owner, managing general partner, and chairman Hal Steinbrenner about DJ LeMahieu.

First though, flash back to the offseason after the 2018 campaign. The Colorado Rockies had just earned a Wild Card win over the Chicago Cubs and advanced to the National League Division Series. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu was coming off a season where he had landed on the injured list three separate times with three separate injuries (hamstring, oblique, and thumb) for the first time in his Major League career. He had also posted a .276 average (a season low since 2014) but posted a career-high 15 home runs (had to be the altitude, right?).

As the offseason began, there was plenty of talk about LeMahieu turning 30 during that season and what might happen with his career in Denver as his contract was expiring. We now know that that talk led to LeMahieu signing with the Yankees for two years and $24 million, which would become a bargain contract for a player who would finish in the top four in American League MVP voting over the next two campaigns and lead the Yankees in bWAR both seasons.

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While LeMahieu was proving to the world he was certainly not a “Coors Field product,” the Rockies were struggling to replace him in the lineup. Daniel Murphy, signed to an identical contract as LeMahieu’s by Colorado, struggled mightily over the next two seasons in Denver.

LeMahieu became the poster child of “the one who got away” for the Rockies. Colorado fans have bemoaned the move ever since LeMahieu left. On Tuesday, Monfort echoed that sentiment.

"“In hindsight, losing DJ LeMahieu was a big deal,” Monfort told Rox Pile and other media members during the press conference to discuss the departure of Nolan Arenado to St. Louis. “In hindsight, I wish we could’ve figured out a way to keep DJ. We wish we could redo that.”"

Later in the conference, Monfort returned to the subject of LeMahieu with a very interesting anecdote about the Yankees given almost in passing.

"“I know that, you know, DJ wanted to stay a Rockie,” Monfort said. “His agent said that, you know, at the time, he is looking for a long-term deal. I remember how (Hal) Steinbrenner asked me at a meeting, ‘What do you got on DJ LeMahieu?’ I said, ‘He’s a great player and a great guy.’ And I said, ‘I see that you’re going to use him as a utility guy and play him every once in a while.’ I said, ‘That ain’t gonna fly with DJ.'”"

For an owner who also said during the conference that his “players are like family to me,” it was interesting to see that Monfort was sharing not just LeMahieu’s on-field abilities with Steinbrenner, but also a personal note on his competitive attitude as well. It’s also interesting to see how not only New York fans have changed their attitudes toward LeMahieu since he first signed, but also how some said there wasn’t room for LeMahieu in the New York lineup and he’d likely just play when he could or was forced to because of other players’ rest days, etc.

Oh how the times have changed. Perhaps, between words of advice from Monfort and LeMahieu’s play on the field, New York fans (and management) have realized just how special of a player (and leader) the man now known as “The Machine” is … and was when the Rockies didn’t resign him to stay in Denver.