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Looking down the road, the Yankees will need to start extending some key players before they hit free agency -- waters that those players might want to navigate to find a new team.

So, while the Yankees have a roster capable of winning a World Series at the moment, GM Brian Cashman will be doing everything in his power to make sure that remains intact. To do so, it requires some big decisions.

We've already taken a look at Gary Sanchez's situation, Masahiro Tanaka's, and James Paxton's. Now let's examine DJ LeMahieu, who is set to hit free agency after the 2020 season...

CONTRACT: Playing the final year of the two-year, $24 million pact he signed before last season

Why should LeMahieu stay?

After his incredible debut with the Yanks, LeMahieu is very much open to staying in the Bronx, which he made quite clear at spring training this year. If he comes anywhere remotely close to what he accomplished last year in pinstripes, it would be malpractice not to bring him back.

You've heard this before but I'll say it again: LeMahieu was the Yankees' MVP last season. He won his first career Silver Slugger award after slashing .327/.375/.518 with 102 RBI and 26 homers -- as a leadoff hitter. That led to his third All-Star selection and he finished fourth in MVP voting.

LeMahieu was the perfect contact-first bat to complement the powerful bunch of hitters who are up and down this Yankees lineup. But he utilized the shorter fences, especially in right field, as he belted a career-high in home runs. It really was a career-year for the 30-year-old -- one that no one, not even Cashman, could've predicted when he was signed.

Though he will have a permanent position at second base this season, LeMahieu's versatility that allows him to play any position in the infield is also added on to his pros list.

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Why should LeMahieu go?

It's hard to play Devil's Advocate in LeMahieu's case, but let's do it anyway.

There's no doubt LeMahieu is an extremely solid player who proved his worth in just one season. But what about the other options out there -- ones who are set to be free agents or potential trade targets in a couple of years?

Think Francisco Lindor, Trevor Story and Nolan Arenado. These are players Cashman could be licking his chops over, but not if he has LeMahieu locked into a longer-term deal with a high AAV. Gleyber Torres is an obvious cornerstone of this franchise, and he'll need his extension, too.

If they had to choose, the Yankees would most likely go with Torres and another younger piece over LeMahieu, who is set to turn 32 before the 2020 season begins.

What's the right move?

It is interesting when you factor in the big fish who Cashman could land in the coming years. However, there is a lot of money already locked in on this roster, and more of it is expected to be dished out (Torres, Aaron Judge, etc.).

So I'd say the right call here is to make sure that LeMahieu gets what he deserves. It shouldn't break the bank for Cashman compared to those other options, and the production shouldn't be too far off, either.

If his spring training was indicative of anything it's that LeMahieu is ready to pick up where he left off in 2019 (his last at-bat was a game-tying homer in the top of the ninth in a do-or-die Game 6 against the Astros in the ALCS, if you needed a reminder). With baseball finally set to come back, we should see that again when games kick off during spring training number two.

Granted he stays healthy, I can't see LeMahieu doing anything to hurt his case for an extension. What would it look like? I think both sides would be happy with something around three or four years and in the $16-18 million per season range. The reason it isn't any higher is because LeMahieu's age isn't on his side, but his play doesn't look it in the slightest.

That's a solid raise in yearly salary, though, and worth it for a player who brings consistency, clutch-hitting and a reliable glove in between the white lines each game.

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