DJ LeMahieu was again in the lineup Saturday, in the nine-hole, a long way from where he was a few years ago, when he was among the best hitters in the game.
Aaron Boone said the 36-year-old had “earned” the right to try to work his way out of his lengthy slump.
“We’ve got to find out and keep running him out there,” Boone said before a 9-1 loss to the Rays in The Bronx. “He’s earned that and with where we are right now roster-wise, we’ve got to give him that opportunity to lock in. And if we can do that, then we know we’ve got a really good hitter on our hands.
“He’s gonna continue to get opportunities here.”
Prior to the game, LeMahieu called the slump “frustrating.”
“You try to make adjustments and try to get going,’’ LeMahieu said.
Then he went out and struck out twice and grounded out.
For now, the Yankees believe that LeMahieu is their best option at third base, but with the July 30 trade deadline just over a week away, it’s no secret the Yankees are looking for corner infield help.
That’s something LeMahieu said is not on his mind.
“Just play and keep going,’’ LeMahieu said.
Boone declined to predict how potential moves could change his role.
“We’ll see,’’ Boone said. “You never know how things go, so I’m not gonna speculate.”
Boone said the switch-hitting Oswaldo Cabrera will get some playing time at third base against righties — including possibly Sunday.
But with Jon Berti also on the IL and having suffered a setback in his recovery from a strained calf, there is no great option.
LeMahieu is 0-for-17 in his last five games and his OPS of .472 is the fifth-worst of any player with more than 140 plate appearances on the season.
And his day ended when he looked at a called third strike on a sinker in the heart of the plate in the bottom of the eighth.
Asked if he was confident LeMahieu was “100 percent healthy,” Boone said, “I believe he’s healthy. He’s just grinding.”
Of the latest slump, Boone said, “He’s had some games where he’s hit into tough luck, but he’s still putting the ball on the ground some. He’s battling, especially for a guy, a hitter, of his caliber, I think he’s just working to get to that spot.”
Asked what gives him confidence LeMahieu can do that, Boone said, “Because he’s still got that great swing. We’re just hoping he can find that groove.”
In the meantime, LeMahieu began hearing it from the Stadium crowd during Friday’s win when he grounded out four times.
“That part is the least of his concerns,’’ Boone said. “He’s trying to get line drives consistently. He’s pretty stoic and professional. I’m sure it’s weighing on him to some degree.”
And it’s weighing down the lineup, with LeMahieu still due over $30 million before his contract runs out after the 2026 season.