Though DJ LeMahieu was one of the quietest players in the Yankees' clubhouse — in public, with the media and, to a lesser degree, with his teammates — no one commanded more respect among his peers.

The New York Yankees made perhaps the most dramatic roster move of their season on Wednesday when they designated veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu for assignment. On the one hand, the move wasn't much of a surprise as LeMahieu has struggled to effectively man an infield position this year.

In LeMahieu’s first four years as a Yankee, he hit .296 with an .806 OPS in 470 games. Over his past three, as his body betrayed him, he hit .237 with a .665 OPS in 248 games.

One day after Aaron Boone declared DJ LeMahieu “a bat off the bench” and physically challenged by the third base position, the Yankees designated the two-time batting champ for assignment. The team announced the decision on Wednesday. The Yankees still owe LeMahieu, 36, about $22 million.

The ultimate decision to let the 37-year-old LeMahieu go had to do with the versatility of the roster once it was decided that Jazz Chisholm Jr. would go forward as the starting second baseman instead of LeMahieu. Since he joined the Yankees LeMahieu has played a lot of third base, but he’d begun to find the position too physically taxing.

On Wednesday, the Yankees designated DJ LeMahieu for assignment even though they still owe him approximately $22 million through next season.

DJ LeMahieu has been cut 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.

The New York Yankees designated DJ LeMahieu for assignment, cutting him loose with nearly two years left on his deal.