Could you make the argument that it wasn't the most effective way to spend all of that money? Possibly (just not with me), a lot of people thought that kind of money would include Manny Machado instead of DJ LeMahieu. Maybe the Yankees aren't completely out of the Machado sweepstakes, but I'd say it's pretty unlikely at this point.
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Is it a better signing than Manny? No, the stats don't lie. LeMahieu has gold glove defense, can play all over the infield if needed and he hits for average but his stats away from Coors field are not nearly as pretty. Manny on the other hand hits with runners in scoring position and is a younger, superstar type talent that is beyond LeMahieu even with his versatility. They are different players, but either one would be capable of the job.
Should fans be upset if the Yankees do pass on Manny and Bryce Harper? Sure. Both names are young superstars in their own right. Both would significantly increase the Yankees chances of winning the World Series in 2019, but even if they don't the Yankees have had a good off season and should feel good about this team. We've made some good upgrades.
But if the Yankees don't make a BIG splash in the best free agent market we've seen in years does that make them "cheap?" We've been waiting for this free agent class for a long time. We waited to get under the luxury tax with the hopes that the Yankees would reinvest that money and sign the next big name. It's been a long time. Is it a disappointment? YES. Do I think the Yankees are cheap? NO.
The Yankees are now more profitable than ever, so it's no wonder why fans want to see the Yankees spend money now. But, the Yankees are officially over the luxury tax for 2019 even if they don't make any other acquisitions at all this year (not likely). They made investments in upgrades with the infield and the starting rotation. If the Yankees were cheap, we wouldn't be at over $212 million in payroll and our team wouldn't be stronger than last season.
Does it suck not signing a big name? Yeah, I miss the exciting big names but maybe there is a reason for it. Maybe the Yankees value saving the money for when Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez are eligible to be free agents more than they value Manny. Keeping our young core together would be exciting too. I don't know if this is how the Yankees are thinking right now, but they have to have a plan that we don't know about yet.
The Yankees may not be spending like the Red Sox did last year, but they aren't cheap. And maybe we can win it all without spending that kind of money....which in that case would make us better. If that happens, the Yankees spent their money wisely.
Should fans be upset if the Yankees do pass on Manny and Bryce Harper? Sure. Both names are young superstars in their own right. Both would significantly increase the Yankees chances of winning the World Series in 2019, but even if they don't the Yankees have had a good off season and should feel good about this team. We've made some good upgrades.
But if the Yankees don't make a BIG splash in the best free agent market we've seen in years does that make them "cheap?" We've been waiting for this free agent class for a long time. We waited to get under the luxury tax with the hopes that the Yankees would reinvest that money and sign the next big name. It's been a long time. Is it a disappointment? YES. Do I think the Yankees are cheap? NO.
The Yankees are now more profitable than ever, so it's no wonder why fans want to see the Yankees spend money now. But, the Yankees are officially over the luxury tax for 2019 even if they don't make any other acquisitions at all this year (not likely). They made investments in upgrades with the infield and the starting rotation. If the Yankees were cheap, we wouldn't be at over $212 million in payroll and our team wouldn't be stronger than last season.
Does it suck not signing a big name? Yeah, I miss the exciting big names but maybe there is a reason for it. Maybe the Yankees value saving the money for when Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez are eligible to be free agents more than they value Manny. Keeping our young core together would be exciting too. I don't know if this is how the Yankees are thinking right now, but they have to have a plan that we don't know about yet.
The Yankees may not be spending like the Red Sox did last year, but they aren't cheap. And maybe we can win it all without spending that kind of money....which in that case would make us better. If that happens, the Yankees spent their money wisely.
So by not signing Machado we got LaMahieu , by the time Judge and Sanchez come up Ellsbury will be gone . We are also banking Didi comes back this year at SS , I see him at the DH this year and no guarantee he will sign with the Yankees .
ReplyDeleteAlso if we were going to pass on Machado I think Lowrie a switch hitter would had been better for the same money because he can bat LH.
I understand Tulo he was free .
There was a time when FA lined up to want to play for the Yankees but not anymore and here there were three this year and we passed on all of them.Corbin I can see , I really don't think he is worth 142 million over 6 years or even a 100 million over 6 years.Is he better than Happ possibly and we paid to much for Happ at 36 years old.
These moves leave me scratching my head , talk all winter of trading the rookie of the year according to his peers , money restraint is good unless the team that won the WS mocked you at their WS parade ( see Cora's comments on scoring 16 runs on us at the Stadium)
If ever their was a time to sign Machado and Harper and DRob and Britton and Corbin this would had been the time.
To let the Red Sox who by the way has won more WS than we have in the past 15 years make fun of us Hal should be boiling mad.