DJ LeMahieu was cut Wednesday by the New York Yankees with almost $22 million remaining on his contract, one day after the two-time batting champion got demoted to the bench.
"It's been a tough couple days. Some hard conversations," manager Aaron Boone said before New York's game against the Seattle Mariners. "But in the end, feel like this is the right thing to do at this time."
LeMahieu, who turns 37 on Sunday, was designated for assignment and fellow infielder Jorbit Vivas was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
New York has seven days to trade or release LeMahieu, or send him outright to the minors — an assignment he would have the right to refuse in favor of free agency.