Around the Empire: Yankees news - 12/13/20

NJ.com | Randy Miller: Bob Nightengale is reporting that DJ LeMahieu is asking for five years at $100 million, while the Yankees have offered four years at $75 million. The thinking around the industry has been that both sides will settle for four years at around $88 million, but Michael Kay and others are reporting that the Toronto Blue Jays are intent on signing him, and may be willing to offer more than New York. Losing LeMahieu within the division would be a brutal pill to swallow. The Yankees can’t let it happen.

New York Post | Joel Sherman: If the Yankees were to let LeMahieu walk, they could try to pull off a very intriguing replacement trade. Rumors have linked the Yankees to the Francisco Lindor sweepstakes, but it could be tough to accomplish. The Yankees’ self-induced budget cuts will complicate things, and the Yankees probably can’t offer a better prospect package than a team like the Blue Jays can. It’s an interesting pipe dream, but the Yankees are probably better off sticking with what they know and retaining LeMahieu.

NJ.com | Randy Miller: There were some great takeaways from Brian Cashman’s interview with the YES Network earlier this week. We’ve already covered what he said about LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres, but he also shined some light on Domingo Germán’s status. When discussing the rotation, Cashman said, “and then Germán comes back from his suspension.” This seems to confirm that Germán will be a Yankee next year. There had been some doubt at the beginning of the offseason after Hal Steinbrenner wouldn’t guarantee his return, but it looks like the Yankees will give Germán another chance after serving his suspension for a domestic violence incident.