Yankees’ pursuit of DJ LeMahieu unaffected by Lindor Mets trade

Francisco Lindor is heading to Queens, but that hasn’t changed the Yankees’ attitude or schedule regarding their pursuit of DJ LeMahieu.

Although keeping LeMahieu in the Bronx remains the Yankees’ top priority this offseason – and they continue to be optimistic about a deal being struck – the two sides are not close, sources said, as the agency free in baseball continues to be close to a stop.

There have been significant trades, from Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to the Mets in exchange for Amed Rosario, Andres Gimenez and a pair of prospects, as well as the Padres acquiring Blake Snell from the Rays and Yu Darvish from the Cubs, but the free Le Frigid pace of the agent market showed no signs of recovery.

The biggest contract awarded this offseason on Sunday is the $ 40.6 million the Mets gave James McCann over four years.

LeMahieu, JT Realmuto, George Springer and Trevor Bauer remain available, with just over a month until the scheduled spring training camps open.

The stalemate issues are what they have been throughout the offseason: uncertainty over the start of the season, the number of games that will be played and whether fans will be allowed in the ball parks, the all due to soaring COVID-19 rates across the country.

The Post’s Joel Sherman reported last month that the two sides were more than $ 25 million apart, LeMahieu, 32, supposedly seeking a five-year deal and the Yankees hoping to bring him back with a contract of three years.

General manager Brian Cashman said last month he was prepared to let other options slip off the board while waiting for LeMahieu.

One of those options would have been a trade for Lindor. The Yankees checked the trade price for the 27-year-old shortstop, but chose to stay focused on LeMahieu, as the Dodgers and Blue Jays hide as possible landing points.

The Dodgers, however, like free agent third baseman Justin Turner and the Blue Jays, while linked with several available free agents, have yet to sign a big ticket this offseason.

In a bid to stay below the luxury tax threshold of $ 210 million next year, the Yankees can likely afford LeMahieu and an additional starting pitcher this offseason.

Masahiro Tanaka is one of the launchers still in the market, but Cashman said that although he has been in contact with the agents of the right-hander and his veteran colleague Yankee, Brett Gardner, they still spend their biggest expenses on LeMahieu, who is the result of a two-year, $ 24 million contract and two great seasons with the Yankees.

Other than that, they showed “ some interest ” in Kyle Schwarber – according to Schwarber – before the outfielder signed a one-year contract with the Nationals for $ 10 million and handed out a few minor league contracts to veteran pitchers such as Adam Warren and Jhoulys Chacin.

The only player added to the 40-man roster was outfielder Greg Allen, who the Yankees picked up in a trade with the Padres for minor league left-hander James Reeves.