A few things to consider regarding Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, and Cody Bellinger are:
In 2023, none of their clubs advanced to the postseason. At the end of the season, two of their managers were fired and one was forced out. All of them left.
It was not the teams’ fault that they failed. It serves as a reminder, though, that most teams don’t get their success from a single great player, and the Yankees fall into that group right now. Generally speaking, you have to be both a) confident in these individuals and b) able to present a convincing argument that at least one of them will significantly improve your team’s chances of winning the championship if you are going to spend the money and/or prospects these players will cost.
Perhaps the Yankees think this offseason will be similar to 2008–09, when they spent $423.5 million to get A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia, and Mark Teixiera after missing the playoffs for 13 consecutive seasons. After their six-year playoff streak came to an end, how will the Yankees respond? Perhaps by signing Kevin Kiermaier, Jordan Hicks, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto and dealing for Soto?
In the first instance, they were building a new stadium and adding Robinson Cano, Hideki Matsui, Alex Rodriguez, and David Robertson to the roster in addition to the Core Four.
What wоuld the Yankees be cоnstructing arоund in this scenariо? Aarоn Judge, Gerrit Cоle, and, if they are being really hard оn themselves, the wоrst dоllar-fоr-dоllar оffense in majоr league histоry in 2023; a persistent inability tо prоduce players, particularly pоsitiоnal prоspects, whо can succeed in the majоr leagues; and a prоtracted run оf pооr perfоrmance in terms оf player health and athleticism.
Should a group founded on such flimsy foundation invest the funds or opportunities to shift the dialogue?
Even though Hal Steinbrenner is often criticized for being frugal, he does have a tendency to spend a lot—often horribly—when criticism gets too near to him. After Cano left the team following the 2013 season, Steinbrenner approved a $438 million spending spree that included Masahiro Tanaka in the best possible way and Jacoby Ellsbury in the worst possible way. After the Astros humiliated the Yankees in the ALCS last season, Steinbrenner gave Carlos Rodon the 11th-highest contract ever for a pitcher ($162 million).
Prior to assuring Ellsbury and Rodon of a combined $315 million, it appears that the Yankees employed the Rougned Odor Investigative Firm to examine their backgrounds.
The Steinbrenners аre nоt intending tо sаve mоney by dоing this. Heck, they cоuld simply eаt the remаining yeаrs оn Giаncаrlо Stаntоn’s cоntrаct аnd cоmpletely revаmp the rоster structure if they wаnted guidаnce оn hоw tо spend $98 milliоn wisely tо benefit the 2024–2027 squаd.
Rather than trying to solve problems by piling expensive bad money on top of even more expensive bad money, Steinbrenner needs to exercise caution so he doesn’t become regarded as a Rodon.
Since the Yankees would need to accept the most, if not all, of the following in order to commit to one or more stars: The team will have far better health results than the home office for the brittle and infirmed they have been in recent years. Jasson Dominguez, Anthony Volpe, and Austin Wells will approach being impact players. DJ LeMahieu’s strong final two months of 2023 are replicable. Anthony Rizzo has no lingering effects from concussions. Nestor Cortes and Rodon are closer to 2022 (combined 2.68 ERA, 336 ¹/₃ innings) than 2023 (5.92, 127 ³/₃ innings).
Honorable mentions: Giancarlo Stanton might make a comeback, Michael King will become a reliable full-time starter, and a left-handed reliever will emerge.
Do you want to proceed? The real Oswaldo Cabrera is 2022 not 2023; the health of relievers Scott Effross, Ian Hamilton, Tommy Kahnle, Jonathan Loaisiga and perhaps Lou Trivino will be good; and Jose Trevino will make it all the way back from wrist surgery.
And even prior to Steinbrenner’s clumsy press appearance at the GM Meetings last week, the criticism was already fierce. Shakespeare played by Carrot Top would not have received as much flak.
What percentage of all that do you think will work in the Yankees’ favor in 2024? Before answering, take off any spectacles with pinstripes. If the structure of the roster links one concerning issue to another, how much of what goes wrong can be concealed by simply adding additional funding to the issue?
Despite this, the Yankees are committed to altering the atmosphere, the story, and their 2023 performance. In the past, the Yankees have been expected to flash their cash when Steinbrenner and Cashman have teamed together. That was reasonable and defended after the 2008 season.
Now, is it?