Bleeding Yankee Blue: YANKEES SIGN THE FOUNDATION OF THE FUTURE

Sunday, January 12, 2020

YANKEES SIGN THE FOUNDATION OF THE FUTURE

Source: Paul J. Bereswill; Charles Wenzelberg

This offseason has been all about getting things buttoned up as far as starting pitching and scaffolding the foundation of the future. Friday was a milestone day for the New York Yankees. On this day, they finalized contracts with their keystone players and one of them was #99.

Source: Newsday

"The New York Yankees and their star outfielder settled on a new deal Friday to avoid arbitration, the team announced. The deal is for $8.5 million, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. His 2019 salary was $684,300," reported NJ.com. Aaron Judge is locked up for 2020 and the Judge's Chambers will be vibrant and loud once again in right field.

"Judge, 27, is entering his fourth full season with the Yankees, having blossomed into one of the game's best players. He has 110 homers and 246 RBI in his career along with a .273 batting average," reported NJ.com. Also getting a big bump in pay was starting catcher Gary Sanchez. "Sanchez led all catchers with 34 homers last season while making $669,800 and agreed to a deal worth $5 million, according to a source," reported The NY Post.

Also avoiding the web of arbitration were starting pitcher James Paxton and Gio Urshela "In the bullpen, Tommy Kahnle settled at $2.65 million and fellow right-hander Luis Cessa at $895,000. Chad Green, Jonathan Holder and lefty Jordan Montgomery also settled on one-year deals," reported the Post.

Brett Gardner's one-year contract was finalized on Saturday. Gardner will receive $12.5 million including a club option for 2021. Relief pitcher Stephen Tarpley was designated for assignment to free up the 40 man roster, and enabling Gardner's spot on the Yankee team.

According to Sports Illustrated, "With CC Sabathia's retirement, Gardy will now be the only remaining member of the 2009 World Series champion Yankees. While New York can rely on him to produce statistically, his presence and leadership off the field, with a knack and experience for winning, makes the 36-year-old invaluable." I could not agree more.

The team is assembling with just over a month before the start of 2020 Spring Training. If you are in the New York area, you might think it is actually spring now with the unseasonably warm weather. It may just be a reflection of the pendulum swinging in the Yankees' favor this year. This is the Yankees' year as their foundation is set for the future.