New York Yankees Deserve Credit for Disguised Rebuild
By Travis Koch
The New York Yankees haven’t been their usual championship selves of late. However, they’ve managed to stay competitive, and the result of a creative rebuild should have them back to contention in no time.
The New York Yankees are known for signing big-name players to big contracts. They thrive in a major market by using their high payroll wisely. But money doesn’t always lead to success. If it did, the major market teams would win the World Series every year. The Yankees have made some extremely impactful signings in recent memory, but they were due to catch up to the team eventually. Singing huge contract after huge contract is a move for the short run, but it often cripples a team in the long run.
Per Spotrac, the Yankees have had a top-two payroll in baseball in each of the past six seasons. Though contributors to their most recent World Series title in 2009, New York have seen their funds go to waste in the back-end of Mark Teixeira‘s, Alex Rodriguez‘s and CC Sabathia‘s careers. Sabathia remains part of the team, but this is the first season the Yanks will be without A-Rod and Teixeira. Rodriguez is on the books for one more $21 million pay-out in 2017, but Teixeira’s contract is no longer a factor.
For the first time in a while, the Yankees’ payroll does not rank in the top two in MLB. Their payroll ranks third in 2017. For once, they are under the $200 million mark. Believe it or not, New York seems to be making a concerted effort to cut payroll. They have done this by taking a contrasting approach to what has been the organization’s customary way of doing business.
Instead of signing big-name players to big contracts, the New York Yankees are selling big-named players for young talent. Last season alone the Yankees traded veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran along with All-Star relievers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller. In the offseason they dealt catcher Brian McCann. As a result, the Yankees acquired their current top two prospects, as well as their 6th, 10th, 11th, and 16th ranked prospects (according to MLB Pipeline).
A part of the Cleveland Indians’ trade, Clint Frazier ranks as New York’s #1 prospect. Frazier is a 22-year-old outfielder who reached Triple-A last season. The Yankees project Frazier could be a part of the big league team as early as this season.
The team’s #2 prospect, Gleyber Torres, was acquired from the Chicago Cubs. Torres is a 20-year-old shortstop with tremendous potential. The Venezuelan has impressed early on with the Yankees, and he even drew a subtle comparison to Yankees great Derek Jeter. In a New York Daily News article, manager Joe Girardi quoted:
"“They’re probably different kinds of players in a sense. As far as being able to play in the moment, yes, but they’re different type of players.”"
In addition to Frazier and Torres, the Yankees also received prospective talents Billy McKinney, Justus Sheffield, Albert Abreu and Dillon Tate. They’ve successfully stacked the system.
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The New York Yankees aren’t just optimistic about their farm system, but more immediately, their current big league team. Five of the Yankees’ nine projected starters are under the age of 28, including three players at 24 years old. Didi Gregorius and Starlin Castro are now established major leaguers, while the younger class is led by catcher Gary Sanchez. Sanchez more than made his presence known around the league in his 53 games with the Yankees in 2016. The team may not earn a playoff bid in 2017; however, there is no doubt their young major league core will have the battle scars to share with the incoming wave of young prospects.
The New York Yankees have changed the rebuilding game. You see the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros now emerging after numerous down seasons. Each team relied on the MLB draft and player development to reach their current success. It is now paying off, but after forcing years of suffering for each team’s fan base.
New York has avoided the suffering. Take that lightly, as Yankees fans are a stubborn bunch, but the reality is the Yankees have not had a single sub-.500 season since their 2009 championship. The Yankees capitalized on MLB’s current demand for great relievers. They should greatly benefit from the Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman trades. Even better, the Yankees once again have Chapman. All they did was lose him for a few months.
Additionally, instead of seeing their veteran players retire as Yankees, they traded Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann for prospects. Thus taking advantage of contenders’ needs for veteran pieces.
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They’ve managed to compete in the post-Jeter era, as well as A-Rod’s elapsed prime. Now, the club looks only a few years away from their return to reign, much thanks to a disguised rebuild.