yankees news

Yankees: What a massive contract extension for Aaron Judge could look like

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aaron judge, yankees

While the New York Yankees are focused on adding a big-name shortstop this off-season, they have to consider the contract extension Aaron Judge will garner in the near future.

Judge will become a free agent in 2023, so he has just one year left of team control before he can sign elsewhere. That likely means general manager Brian Cashman and Judge’s representatives will look to strike a huge deal before he hits free agency.

The star slugger has indicated he prefers to stay with the Yankees for his entire career, but many players have said that in the past just to leave and find success elsewhere.

A deal for Judge will likely be close to $40 million per season on average, but let’s take a look at a prospective deal that would lock the Bombers into his services for at least five seasons.

New York Post’s Ken Davidoff proposed a monster deal, averaging out at $37.8 million per season over five years with an additional season and opt-out later on:

How about taking the five-year, $189 million package that my colleague Joel Sherman proposed back in October, adding another year and $38 million to it (six years and $227 million, a tribute to the iconic Marla Gibbs), adding vesting options for 2028 through 2030 (his age-36 through -38 seasons) based on collective plate appearances, and, to seal the deal, throwing in an opt-out after 2024?

If Judge is healthy, he is deserving of every dollar, especially considering the Yankees under-spend compared to their revenue per season. Judge played in 148 games this past season at 29-years-old, hitting .287 with 39 homers and 98 RBIs.
The righty slugger posted a career-low 25% strikeout rate and 37.5 offensive WAR. Judge is showing more discipline at the plate and a sustainable proficiency for hitting home runs. The only season where he didn’t break double digit homers was during the Covid abbreviated 2020 campaign when Judge spent the majority of the season injured. His 39 homers this past season is a benchmark moving forward and considering he’s not even 30-years-old yet, investing in him as a long-term solution is an easy decision.
Defensively, Judge has one of the best arms in baseball out of right field, but depending on how the Yankees approach their centerfield spot, it is possible they move Judge to the middle of the outfield and find a replacement in right. If the Yankees do end up retaining Joey Gallo, he could start an RF while Judge makes the move to center, a position he proved capable of this past season.
What do you think of this behemoth contract for Aaron Judge? Comment here!

Yankees News and Rumors 12/15: Everything you need to know in one place

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New York Yankees, Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge locked down; now what?

The New York Yankees homegrown superstar Aaron Judge locked down his personal life with the marriage last weekend to Samantha Bracksieck in a tropical setting in Maui, Hawaii. The only question to be answered in his life is whether he will have a marriage with the Yankees.

The 2017 Rookie of the Year had his second-best year with the Yankees last season. He stayed healthy and basically carried the team on his back with consistently good play all season long. Judge has often been called the face of the Yankees and the face of baseball. But Judge will become a free agent after this season, and it’s time for the Yankees to make him a lifelong Yankee with a handsome contract extension.

Although the Yankees have been mostly quiet on the subject, they are well aware of the need to address the Judge situation sooner than later. Part of their delay in propping up the team pre-lockout could be because they need to see what monies will be available for their needs, including an extension for Judge. Once a new CBA can be reached, the Yankees will have to pounce on these needs quickly.

Appreciating Jordan Montgomery

Yankee pitcher Jordan Montgomery has gone under the radar the last few years but has been a mostly solid player for the Yankees. Over five seasons with the Yankees, one out for Tommy John surgery, he has a winning record. Monty has been their only constant in the pitching rotation throughout the period, with the loss of Luis Severino to surgery, CC Sabathia to retirement, seeing Masahiro Tanaka lost to Japan, and now the loss of 2 time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber.

Montgomery is a good pitcher, although not flashy; he never enjoyed the hype of a Joba Chamberlain but has been solid for the Yankees. Montgomery’s career stats are not bad. 388 IP – 15.8 K-BB% – 1.27 WHIP – 3.90 FIP – 7.3 fWAR, which is nothing to sneeze at. Last season, he was 6-7 with an ERA of 3.83 in 30 games. That record is not representative of how he pitched; he got absolutely no run support in over half of his games. Montgomery could be big for the Yankees in 2022 in the third spot in the rotation.

Anthony Rizzo is enjoying free agency

At the trade deadline last season, the Yankees got the long-time Chicago Cub to replace the ailing Luke Voit at first base. Rizzo started out like a superstar for the Yankees, but his hitting cooled off. One thing that didn’t cool off was his defense at first base, the best since Mark Teixeira. So now Rizzo is a free agent for the first time in his baseball life, and he is enjoying it.

The Yankees, as of the lock-out, do not have a starting first baseman for the new season. They retained Luke Voit, but with his health, he is not the best option, nevertheless having him reduces the priority for the Yankees. Rizzo, meanwhile, has made it known that he likes New York and would like to stay here. Other names that have been mentioned for the Yankees to act on once the lock-out is over are Matt Olson and the best in the business, Freddie Freeman, among others.

Is Trevor Story a fit for the Yankees?

Even before the World Series was over, the Yankees announced that they would be spending money and that their number one priority was to sign a star-like shortstop. To date, that has not been done, with some ambiguity as to if the Yankees will do that or go the way of a stopgap purchase, waiting for either Anthony Volpe or Oswald Perzaza to become major league ready.

Several names the Yankees have been looking at are already gone. Corey Seager went to the Texas Rangers, and Marcus Semien went to the Angels. That leaves the big prize of Carlos Correa still unsigned. Correa is not the best fit for the Yankees because of a lingering mysterious back ailment and involvement in the Astros sign-stealing that could have cost the Yankees a World Series appearance.

There are other options, and one of them is a shortstop the Yankees have looked at previously; Trevor Story. Trevor Story remains an intriguing prospect for a team with a current need at SS but less of a need in the future. The Yankees once very high on Story seem to have soured on him somewhat. Nevertheless, they made a play for him at the trade deadline but could not come to an agreement with the Colorado Rockies.

Story had an unexpected down season in 2021; (.251/.329/.471/.801, 24 home runs, 75 RBIs). However, Story has solidified himself as one of the top offensive shortstops in the game, and he is not far from out of the headlights on the Yankee horizon.

Is a shortstop already in the system?

The New York Yankees could blow off the shortstop need and avoid spending money as they look for a number two starter for the pitching rotation, a first baseman, and help in center field. However, to do that, they would have to recognize how good Gio Urshela was replacing Gleyber Torres at short. Although a small sample, Urshela proved he can play the position to upgrade Torres.

Should the Yankees take the stopgap option, Urshela could slide in at short until Yankee prospects Anthony Volpe and Osward Perzara are ready for the big time. Last season in 28 games, he hit .267 with a better fielding percentage than at third base, his usual position. Urshela is not the perfect option for the Yankees, but for one year, it could work. With Torres penned in at second and moving DJ LeMahieu to third base, where he played adequately last season, that would let the Yankees concentrate on a long-term upgrade at first base.

Luke Voit; trade piece or first baseman?

Early in the post-season, the Yankees decided to hold onto first baseman Luke Voit. The question is, why? He is not a great defender at first and can’t seem to stay healthy. There are two answers to that question. They are going to concentrate on a new expensive shortstop, or they are holding onto Voit as a trade piece to fill one of the team’s needs, at short, in the outfield, or at first base.

With a questionable health record, in 2020, he led all of baseball with 22 home runs in the shortened season. But last season, he regressed playing in only 68 games, hitting .239 with only eleven home runs. He couldn’t stay healthy below the belt with foot and knee problems. There is no question that the Yankees are concerned about Voit and who will play at first base. The Yankees attempted to trade Voit before the trade deadline but were unsuccessful. The Yankees have several first-base options, including keeping DJ LeMahieu there. They also could resign Anthony Rizzo, get Olson, or go after the superstar Freddie Freeman. At his point, Voit does not seem like the best option as we advance.

 

New York Yankees: What’s in store for a new CBA and the game of baseball?

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The New York Yankees and the other 29 teams are at a post-season standstill, as there is a lockout in place because the owners and players couldn’t come to a new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) at the expiration of the old agreement on December 1st. Meanwhile, the wheels have fallen off the wagon with no transactions or trades being made.

Through all of this, the fans are the losers with nothing happening. Many fans aren’t aware of what is at stake with a new agreement. That is not surprising because neither side is talking for the most part, and although negotiations are going on, they are moving at a snail’s pace. So, what exactly is at stake for the game, and what are the primary issues to be resolved?

  • The Players want more money sooner in their careers.
  • They want changes to arbitration or an earlier path to free agency.
  • Will there be a universal designated hitter?
  • Robot strike zone in some form.
  • Limiting pitcher throws to first base.
  • Reducing the distance between home plate and the pitching rubber.
  • Will the 10th inning rule continue?
  • Will doubleheaders be 7 or 9 innings?
  • Slightly larger bases with a less-slippery surface
  • A requirement that all four infielders have their cleats within the outer boundary of the infield dirt when the pitch is delivered.
  • A requirement that pitchers must step off the rubber to attempt a pickoff.
  • Ending the shift.
  • Players want to secure a more significant portion of the pie this off-season.

All of these items would be up to discussion in a perfect world. The fact is that they probably won’t be put into the negotiations by the owners. If they do, the players could look for a quid pro quo situation, where they accept a rule change in exchange for a financial concession. Many rule changes could lead to a better, faster-played game to benefit the fans that most think is too long. But it is not likely these rules will be discussed. The owners realize that Commissioner Manfred can make any of these changes on his own, giving the union a one-year notice.

Many fans have long complained that the 9 inning game lasts too long and that some extra-inning games are downright excruciating. In 1975 the average length of a 9 inning game was 2 hours and 25 minutes. In 2021 that climbed to 3 hours and 8 minutes and has increased in each of the last three years. Many AL East games last up to 4 hours or more  The longest game in 2021 was 5 and a half hours, between the Dodgers and the Padres, and that is with the man on second rule. Something must be done as the game of baseball is losing fans.

The main problem in these negotiations is that both sides are looking to improve their financial best interest, while what is good for the game and the fans takes a backseat. If they worked with each other in good faith and did what was best for the game, neither side would likely be hurt unequally.

The owners have always wanted a salary cap, which likely would be good for the game but would hurt superstar players. Knowing that the players will have nothing to do with that proposal, although the owners are not making that an issue in this new agreement. It should be noted that the NFL, NBA, and NHL all have salary caps. There are two concessions that could be made that would likely appease both parties and could lead to further agreements. One is for the owners to raise starting pay for young players. The union could offer to create an international draft.

What comes out of these negotiations, nobody knows. We also don’t know how long the lockout will last or if the lockout will prevent the start of spring training or even the beginning of the 2020 season. For the benefit of the game and the fans, both sides will have to make concessions to end this lockout sooner than later.

There are a couple of reasons that we give the owners the edge in the negotiations, and that is they can play the long game. Their stakes in the sport are almost guaranteed to stretch decades longer than any athlete’s playing career. Right now, the owners are relatively happy with the economic status quo. The players aren’t and are tired of the owners coming out on top in these CBA negotiations. They have said that they are not going to allow that this year. So this synopsis does not spell for an early end in the labor negotiations.

Yankees would be taking huge risks with top shortstop free agents

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carlos correa, yankees

One way or another, the New York Yankees face a big problem this off-season regarding their vacant shortstop position. After the failed Gleyber Torres experiment, the Yankees tried to solve the spot in-season, even being linked to Trevor Story at the trade deadline. But after the front office “soured” on the possibility, they decided to wait until this free agency to make a decision.

General manager Brian Cashman remained patient before the lockout, allowing options like Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to sign with the Texas Rangers on massive contracts. While there are still a few solid options on the market, they come with their own risks, which will force the Yankees to think twice before offering a long-term contract.

Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish stated that Trevor Story might have to transition to second base in the near future due to arm concerns:

Most scouts believe that the 29-year-old Story would benefit from a shift to second base due to diminished arm strength. He’s dealt with elbow strains over the past few seasons and a shift to second base might reduce the overall wear and tear.

Theoretically, the Bombers could sign a Story to a shorter-term contract, but if he has serious arm concerns, the expectation of moving him to third base is likely off the table. With Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu capable of playing second, a stopgap until Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe are ready to take the jump could be ideal. Trevor represents a cost-efficient move, given the massive contract Correa is seeking.

However, Correa endured serious back problems last year, so a 10-year contract may end up being another Jacoby Ellsbury situation, which simply must be avoided at all costs.

ESPN’s Buster Olney indicated that Carlos Correa’s camp is withholding important injury information:

“There are questions about his lower back. He has gotten treatment for it…. Teams are saying they can only access his medical records if they make a ‘significant offer’ and teams are hesitant”

Cashman will have to find an upgrade at shortstop no matter what, but at this point, signs point toward a stopgap being the preferred strategy. Nonetheless, in one of the best shortstop markets in the past decade, missing out on the top option would certainly irk Yankee fans and management alike.

Yankees could make surprise infield move with DJ LeMahieu

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yankees, dj lemahieu

The New York Yankees have been and will continue to be connected to some of the biggest free-agent players on the market, ranging from Carlos Correa to Trevor Story. However, general manager Brian Cashman is still looking for a solution at first base, and with Luke Voit suffering through injuries during the 2021 season, a new starter could be on the horizon.

It is entirely possible Cashman looks to bring back Anthony Rizzo on an extension. Rizzo was traded from the Chicago Cubs to New York at the deadline, featuring in 49 games with the Bombers. During that sample size, Rizzo hit .249 with eight homers and 21 RBIs.

The former Gold Glove winner would undoubtedly be a consistent option both offensively and defensively if offered a long-term contract, but the Yankees also have their eyes set on Freddie Freeman, who is looking for a deal upwards of five years. If Freeman, in fact, makes a move to an alternative club, the Yankees represent a solid landing spot.

This past year, he won a World Series with the Braves, hitting .300 with 31 homers and 83 RBIs. Freeman ranked 9th in MVP voting and would undoubtedly be an awesome power threat as a lefty in Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees could take a cheaper route to solve first base:

Nonetheless, based on Cashman’s quiet approach before the lockout, it is possible he looks to save a bit of cash and utilize talent already on the roster to solve first base. In that scenario, he may ask DJ LeMahieu to move there full-time, signing a shortstop and moving Gleyber Torres to second base permanently.

The team would hate to move on from Torres after a few down seasons at shortstop, so maintaining confidence in him may be viewed as ideal. Nonetheless, LeMahieu making the full-time move to first isn’t out of the picture but would surely be surprising. This past season, he experienced a bit of natural regression after an incredible 2020 season. He batted .268 with 10 homers and 57 RBIs, featuring in 150 games. At 1B, he logged a .997 fielding percentage with just one error.

At the end of the day, DJ is one of those players who can move around the infield seamlessly and see a minimal drop-off in quality. It ultimately comes down to whether Cashman still has faith in Torres and wants to make him a long-term solution at second base rather than spending big on a first base solution and trading away their homegrown talent in a prospective deal.

Yankees could execute interesting salary dump trade to solve shortstop and centerfield spots

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alvis andrus, yankees

It is entirely possible the New York Yankees take a more cost-efficient route after the lockout. After all, general manager Brian Cashman stayed quiet before the league shut down, and while he could target a big name like Carlos Correa, the expectation is management doesn’t want to spend the type of money Correa is looking for over a decade long period.

There are a variety of options that could serve as a stopgap at a much cheaper price point, including Andrelton Simmons or Trevor Story. However, Cashman could look at potential trade scenarios as a more appropriate strategy.

The New York Post’s Joel Sherman believes the Yankees could take more of a garbage disposal approach, accumulating big contracts and stop-gaps for the short term:

If the Yankees wanted to emphasize defense, it would probably not take a ton of prospect capital if they were willing to absorb most or all of the $6.25 million the Athletics owe shortstop Elvis Andrus in 2022 and the $18 million the Brewers owe Lorenzo Cain. … Cain would serve as a rotating part of the outfield, plus insurance for Hicks (Milwaukee has had interest in Voit previously).

Elvis Andrus is currently 33-years0old and headed into the final guaranteed year of the eight-year, $120 million contract he signed back in 2015. Andrus has a 2023 player option that would become guaranteed with 550 plate appearances in 2022 or 1,100 play appearances in 2021 and 2022 combined. He enjoyed 541 this past year with the Oakland Athletics, posting a .243 average and 15% strikeout rate.

Andrus is a decent player but isn’t known for his slugging abilities, which is usually the direction the Yankees take when acquiring players. He’s more of a contact specialist, recording 91 singles and 25 doubles this past season to go with 12 stolen bases. In the past, Andrus was known for his speed on the base paths, recording 31 stolen bases back in 2019 before experiencing a big drop-off with age.

Acquiring a player like Elvis would undoubtedly be a stopgap for the future, but taking his money off the books from Oakland would likely cost the Yankees little to nothing.

Another player Cashman could trade for is Lorenzo Cain of the Milwaukee Brewers. Cain is currently heading into the final year of a five-year, $80 million contract. He’s prepared to earn $18 million in base salary this upcoming season at 36-years-old, and serve as mostly a rotational player for the Bombers. This past season, he hosted a .257 average with eight homers and 36 RBIs in just 78 games.

Cain has undoubtedly experienced health complications in the past, but when he’s available, he’s a solid player capable of producing quality offense and good defense. Nonetheless, adding another injury-prone player to the outfield isn’t exactly an ideal situation, so this is a move the Yankees would likely pass on unless Milwaukee was looking for a salary dump and willing to give them assets in exchange.

New York Yankees: Aaron Judge and long-time girlfriend marry in Hawaii

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While there is not much going on with the New York Yankees, there is big news to report during the lockout. Yankee star outfielder Aaron Judge and his long-time girlfriend Samantha Bracksieck were married on Saturday in Maui, Hawaii in a private ceremony at a posh tropical resort.

Apparently, Aaron Judge is a one-and-done kind of guy, as he culminated a more than ten-year relationship with his high school sweetheart, and this weekend he sealed the deal with a passionate kiss after the pair made their vows. This is even more exciting because the pair managed to keep the impending nuptials mostly secret. Bracksieck was shown months ago with what appeared to be an engagement ring, indicating that an upcoming wedding might be in the books.

The Daily Mail first reported the wedding that was acknowledged by the venue. It was said to be an intimate wedding with only family and a few of the closest friends in attendance at the Montage Kapalua Bay resort in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. Recent photos showed Luis Cessa, Gary Sanchez, and Gleyber Torres, vacationing in Maui, it is assumed that they attended the wedding.

Judge and Bracksieck met in high school. At Linden High School, Judge was a three-sport all-star. The pair would go on to attend California State University in Fresno California, where Judge was named a Freshman All-American. The couple took a break in their relationship in 2016 but were spotted together in 2019 on a trip to London. Judge is 29, and Samantha is one year his junior.

Judge picked out the perfect place for the wedding, the Kapalua Bay resort. The resort sits right on the ocean with views of neighboring islands. As expected, the resort is quite exclusive, with suites starting at $3,400 a night. The wedding was held outdoors under a gazebo next to the ocean.

New York Yankees wrapped up the 2021 season when they lost to the Red Sox in the wild card game. Nevertheless, Judge had his best season since 2017 going on to be the Yankees’ most dependable player. Meanwhile, Judge has said that being a Yankee for life “would be a wish of mine.” Now he will do it with his lovely new wife. So soon, there may be mini-Judges running around the bases. If the Judge and the Yankees disagree on a contract extension, he could become an unrestricted free agent after the 2022 season.

Yankees News: AL East rival embarrassed Yankees pre-lockout, perfect fit at shortstop still available

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yankees, trevor story

The New York Yankees were eerily quiet before the MLB lockout, mainly as a result of strategy. Owner Hal Steinbrenner preferred to operate after the new luxury tax threshold is set, potentially earning him even more money, thanks to evermore greediness from the owners. General manager Brian Cashman inquired about a few names early in free agency, but those attempts were swept under the rug as more aggressive teams spent over $1 billion on new contracts before the lockout.

In fact, even the Toronto Blue Jays, not known for their spending, were in pursuit of star shortstop, Corey Seager, previously from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Yankees were the favorites entering free agency for Seager’s signature, given his awesome lefty bat and solid defense. Now, the Yanks are in no-mans land, eyeing a monster name like Carlos Correa on a huge contract or a stop-gap for the interim. However, seeing Toronto as an aggressor while the Yankees sat quietly on the side was a sign of embarrassment for ownership.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan stated that the Toronto Blue Jays were even in on Corey Seager, as the Yankees sat on the sidelines with not a care in the world:

It was far from a sure bet — the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom Seager had spent his entire career and won a World Series, weren’t going anywhere. And Toronto, which had also been in on Semien, was now primed to take a strong run at Seager. But first the Blue Jays had some other business to take care of. They were in a bidding war with the New York Mets.

The Yankees can still fill a big need with a good player:

In context, the Yankees don’t want a 10-year solution at shortstop, they want a quality stop-gap who can hold the line while they wait for Oswal Peraza and Anthony Volpe.

Trevor Story is exactly that player, slashing .251/.329/.471 with 24 homers and 75 RBIs during the 2020-21 season. Story is a good enough defender to make the transition of Gleyber Torres obsolete and has enough offensive production to provide some consistency. Story has hit double-digit homers in all of his six MLB seasons and is only two years removed from posting 35.

The Bombers have been heavily connected to the Colorado infielder in the past, so signing him would make logistical sense. Monetarily, Story would be far less costly than Correa and allow the Yankees a bit of flexibility to enable their youngsters to develop.

New York Yankees: Did Giancarlo Stanton hit the longest home run ever?

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New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton is unarguably the best power-hitting player in baseball. But, the simple answer to if he hit the longest home run, is no he didn’t. It’s tough to answer the question because many measurements took place before Statcast, making the determination quite accurate and easy. Many of the records discussed here are based on witnesses, rumors, and knowing the measurements of the park where the home runs were slammed.

It should be noted that homers hit at the Colorado Rockies home, Coor’s field, will go much further than in other parks that are closer to sea level. Coors Field is at a lofty 5,200 feet where the air is very thin. Not surprisingly, the longest home run ever hit was in 1987 at the then Mile High Stadium. Joey Meyer, in a game between the minor league Denver Zephyrs and the Buffalo Bisons, hit a towering blast that went 587′ and was recorded on video.

When mentioning home runs, one must discuss Mickey Mantle because many believe he hit the longest home run. Mantle is often credited with a 734′ homer during 1963 in the old Yankee Stadium. The long ball hit off the facade keeping it from going out of the park. It hit so hard that it bounced back onto the field. The only problem with the validity of that shot was that Yankee Stadium’s farthest reach was left-center at 408′. To believe the 734′ figure, you would have to agree that the stands are 326′ deep, which they are not.

All tolled Mantle is said to have had six long balls that were over 600′, but most of those were contested by fellow players and fans. His longest home run was probably the one against the Washington Senators at Griffith Field, it measured 565′. That home run was documented and coined the “tape measured home run.”

  • Here are some of the other home runs, some are disputed:
  • Josh Gibson, Homestead Grays catcher – 580 feet, Yankee Stadium
  • Babe Ruth, Boston Red Sox outfielder – 550-587 feet, Plant Field
  • Reggie Jackson, Oakland Athletics outfielder – 539 feet, Tiger Stadium
  • Willie Stargel, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder – 535 feet, Olympic Stadium
  • Adam Dunn, Cincinnati Reds first baseman – 535 feet, Great American Ballpark
  • Jim Thome, Cleveland Guardians first baseman – 511 feet, Jacobs Field
  • Glenallen Hill, Chicago Cubs outfielder – 500+ feet, Wrigley Field
  • Nomar Mazara, Texas Rangers outfielder – 505 feet, Globe Life Park
  • Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins outfielder – 504 feet, Coors Field, the former two were measured by Statcast.

Here are the longest home run blasts during the 2021 season: Click on the links to see the actual home run video.

Please note that five of the ten longest hit home runs in 2021 were at Coor’s Field, home of the Colorado Rockies. Baseball analysts generally agree that balls at Coor’s Field go 5-10% further than at other fields.

Interestingly the hardest-hit ball of the 2021 season was not hit out of the infield. Giancarlo Stanton lined a ball off the bat at 122.2 mph. That ball was lined into the second baseman’s glove resulting in a double play. Stanton has hit five of the year’s hardest-hit balls.

Player agent torches Yankees’ owner Hal Steinbrenner for treating team like ‘Broadway show’

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New York Yankees, Hal Steinbrenner

Some of the biggest teams in Major League Baseball sat quietly while fear of the lockout churned out massive contracts at the end of November. The New York Yankees were one of the few teams to sit still and wait until after lockout when a new luxury tax threshold would be set. With the monstrous amount of revenue the Yankees earn every year, they spend just a small portion of that on players, which may be to the surprise of some considering the big contracts they have on file.

However, the Yankees failed to spend before the locket, especially with several suitable options on the market. While talented free agents will be available in the spring, they will have to come out guns blazing once the lockout finishes.

Owner Hal Steinbrenner has been accused of failing to spend some of his big bucks, forcing general manager Brian Cashman to stay below the $210 million luxury tax threshold, despite a lack of starting pitching and failure to develop homegrown talent.

According to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic, one player agent compared Steinbrenner’s strategy to a broadway show:

“Hal operates the Yankees like a top Broadway show,” the agent said. “They charge top ticket prices and put the biggest and best stars on the stage. With that said, the show’s primary purpose is to turn a significant profit. If the Broadway show happens to win a Tony for Best Show, all the better.”

This is a perfect analogy to use when looking at Steinbrenner, who uses a small percentage of his money on players while pocketing the rest. He put some of the biggest stars on his stage to attract viewers and consumers, but it is more of a business model than a plan to win. The team always lacks significant talent at specific positions, and the team overspends on singular players instead of finding multiple guys who serve a designed purpose.

Just look at Giancarlo Stanton for example, the Yankees consumed his contract when they could’ve spread that money around to three different quality players. They took a massive risk, and while Stanton was solid during the 2020–21 campaign, he has struggled with injury issues the past few seasons.

The Yankees will likely spend coming out of the lockout. History tells us they will go after the biggest name to draw consumers back to the market. Fans are already angry at baseball and may find different outlets for their source of entertainment, so Steinbrenner will try to draw them back in with another big name, and it will work.