DJ LeMahieu declines Yankees' qualifying offer

DJ LeMahieu will not accept the Yankees' $18.9 million qualifying offer.|Art or Photo Credit: AP

DJ LeMahieu did not accept the Yankees' qualifying offer and will test the open market as a free agent

LeMahieu had until Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET to decide whether to accept the one-year, $18.9 million offer for 2021. He was one of six free agents to receive a qualifying offer this offseason, along with Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto, Astros outfielder George Springer, Reds right-hander Trevor Bauer, Mets right-hander Marcus Stroman and Giants right-hander Kevin Gausman.

Only Stroman and Gausman accepted the offers.

The 32-year-old LeMahieu is an American League MVP finalist this season along with José Abreu (White Sox) and José Ramírez (Indians). LeMahieu won the MLB batting crown in 2020 by hitting .364, and he added 10 home runs and 27 RBIs while also leading the AL with a .421 on-base percentage and 1.011 OPS.

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