New York Yankees: Off-Season Priorities
By Jason Evans
What do the New York Yankees have to do this off-season?
The 2016 New York Yankees were counting on Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira to have big seasons again and a super pen to shut down the end of games. Rodriguez retired in July after the Yankees were going to release him. Teixeira has also retired and the Yankees traded 2/3 of No Runs DMC for prospects along with Carlos Beltran, who was their best player at the time.
The Yankees went with prospects for the first time in years. Gary Sanchez may have slugged his way to the AL Rookie of the Year Award. Tyler Austin showed some nice opposite field power. Aaron Judge showed light tower power, but also a propensity to strike out, something he has done at every level of the minors.
The Yankees are going to want to do their best to stay under the Luxury Tax Threshold. Right now, it’s at $189 million, however, there is going to be a new CBA in place so we don’t know quite yet if it will be higher.
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Per Spotrac, the Yankees have $147 million tied into just nine players, including $21 million for Rodriguez who isn’t even with the club any more. If the Yankees tender a contract to all arbitation eligible players below, per MLB Trade Rumors calculations, that is another $32.8 million which brings you to almost $180 million right there.
Pending Free Agents: Billy Butler
Arbitration Eligible: Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi, Dustin Ackley, Didi Gregorius, Dellin Betances, Austin Romine, Tommy Layne, Adam Warren, Aaron Hicks.