TAMPA — Aaron Boone is not yet writing his lineup in pen, but it’s clear he has a preference for who hits leadoff ahead of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.
After using 10 different leadoff hitters last season, Boone indicated that DJ LeMahieu would be his ideal solution for that spot this year to set the stage for some combination of Soto and Judge to follow.
“If we can solve that leadoff spot — look, I want it to be DJ and hopefully it is, but certainly Alex Verdugo up there is a possibility — if that leadoff spot gets settled, then we have a chance to be a really special offense,” Boone said Wednesday. “Because I do feel like the middle of the lineup then around Aaron and Juan has a chance to be deep and special.”
After adding better depth and balance to their lineup over the offseason, Boone said it was a “reasonable expectation” for the Yankees to be an “elite offense.”
Having LeMahieu build off of an improved second half of last season would be a good start to making that happen.
The 35-year-old infielder struggled in the first half of 2023 after coming off a toe injury but began to look more like himself after the All-Star break, which coincided with the arrival of hitting coach Sean Casey.
After hitting .220 with a .643 OPS at the break, LeMahieu hit .273 with a .809 OPS over the final 60 games, offering hope that he had rediscovered his groove after working through the toe issues.
“I think whatever struggles he’s had at different times over the last couple years have been just that — they’ve been physical in nature,” Boone said. “And I think he’s in as good a place as he’s been in the last couple of years. I think a healthy, productive DJ from an offensive position player standpoint puts us in a really good spot.”
If LeMahieu is able to solidify his presence atop the lineup, Boone could follow with Soto, Judge and Anthony Rizzo, some combination of Gleyber Torres, Verdugo and Giancarlo Stanton, followed by Jose Trevino or Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe.
It should be a deeper lineup with more of a threat from both sides of the plate than the Yankees have had in recent years.
LeMahieu has been part of the group working out in Tampa for much of the offseason, including taking part in the Yankees’ running program.
He is not the most athletic player but Boone said he has noticed a difference in how the veteran is moving around.
“He’s just more explosive, to me, in the batting cage,” Boone said. “To me it’s very noticeable. I felt like he started to address some things in the second half of last season and put together a stronger second half. But to me, he’s even in a way better physical position than he was then and any time probably in the last couple years.”