New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has to face the facts.
The New York Yankees have historically owned the MLB offseason. It's been the case for decades. However, the tide is obviously turning.
With the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs and, heck, even the Pittsburgh Pirates dominating winter headlines, the Yankees have remained mostly silent. Yes, they traded for Ryan Weathers, but come on: this is New York we are talking about here.
Earlier in the offseason, owner Hal Steinbrenner refused to acknowledge that the Yankees were a profitable franchise, and while that may have been posturing against the player's union with a potential labor stoppage looming, you also can't help but feel it was Steinbrenner's way of preparing the fans for disappointment.
He also seems incredibly reluctant to give Cody Bellinger over $35 million annually, and you know what? I would be, too. Bellinger is 30 years old, has an injury history and has really only had to impressive seasons since his MVP campaign in 2019.
Clearly, Steinbrenner feels that none of these players — Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, you name them — are worth the money they have received, but you know what? The market doesn't care about anyone's feelings. It's just the market, and you have to learn to adapt.
New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner. Credit: SL.Do you think the Cubs — a notoriously stingy franchise — enjoyed handing 31-year-old Bregman a five-year, $175 million contract? No, but they did. The Dodgers gave Tucker $60 million per year. The Mets paid Bichette an AAV of $42 million.
Bellinger may not be Tucker, but he isn't $25 million worse than the four-time All-Star, and a serious argument can be made that he is superior to both Bregman and Bichette (especially the latter given the defensive difference) as an all-around talent.
So if that's what Tucker, Bregman and Bichette are landing in free agency, then guess what? Bellinger asking for $36-37 million per year doesn't sound too asinine, does it?
If Steinbrenner wants to win championships, then this is the reality that he must face. He needs to actually spend money. All of the other top clubs are doing it, so it's time for the Yankees — arguably the most recognizable organization in sports — to jump on board.
If that means overpaying Bellinger, then so be it. And if that means surrendering top prospects for Milwaukee Brewers star Freddy Peralta and then making sure to re-sign him next offseason, then it needs to be done.