According to Buster Olney HERE contract negotiations are "at an impasse." The Yankees have offered a five year deal with "at least" a $30 million average annual value which they believe is competitive. However, Boras and Cody are asking for a seven year deal and the rumor mill says Cody wants closer to $37 million a year. Did the Yankees make a competitive offer?
That's what everyone is debating. If you look at what the market has already commanded, it is definitely speaking. Pete Alonso signed a five year $155 million deal with the Orioles and Kyle Schwarber signed a five year $150 million deal with the Phillies. This is where the market gets tricky. Based on what Alonso got, one can argue that Cody got a fair value, but then there is Schwarber. A guy that has mostly served as a designated hitter the last two years signed a deal that is supposedly similar to the offer the Yankees made to Cody? Hmmmm.
That's where this gets hard. If Schwarber's offer is similar to what the Yankees offered Cody the Yankees might need to ask themselves just how badly do they want Cody back. Do I think they need to go seven years? No, and as bad as I want Cody back I am not loving the idea of signing him for seven years. However, the Yankees may need to go that sixth year and give him a slight increase on an average annual value basis. It's not unreasonable.
At this point, the Yankees are supposedly shifting gears and approaching the rest of their offseason like Cody won't be coming back. At this stage, the Yankees assume the market has gone cold. Maybe it has....we'll see but they are not going to bid against themselves.
Remember, at the Winter Meetings, Scott Boras got cutesy with a poetry attempt and hinted that there were eight teams interested in Bellinger. Who knows if that's true or if Boras was fibbing on that BUT that is definitely how Boras operates so embellishing the truth on that is not out of the realm of possibility.
Boras is now and has always played a good hand of poker. He said Cody had interest in as many as eight teams....but that could realistically also mean one or two. There's a fine line between flat out lying and bluffing. It's how Boras operates and gets the best deals for his clients so I never underestimate him. Right now the Yankees are calling Boras' bluff and I just hope it turns out in their favor.
I don't know how this is going to pan out but what I DO know is the Yankees won't have another 94 win season with regular outfield playing time with Trent Grisham in center field and Jasson Dominguez in left field. Hell, the Yankees shouldn't even gamble with Spencer Jones either. They need stability out there, and that's exactly what Cody brings.
Cody is a big part of the Yankees plans for a successful run this season. Our rivals have all made improvements while we have not. The Yankees can't stand firm here. A game of chicken is not the answer. Someone needs to blink here and get this done.
If it doesn't happen I am going to lose what little sanity I have left.....
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