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.

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 New York Yankees released two-time MLB batting champion DJ LeMahieu, ending his seven-year tenure with the team, they announced Thursday.

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.

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

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