The New York Yankees never shy away from spending money, but this season might be slightly different. The team has been active so far this offseason, but not to tune of what they were the last few years when they spent big money on pitchers and batters alike. Still in search of another ace to add to the rotation, Yankees' team president Randy Levine told the media that it will not be handing out anymore big contracts to pitchers which removes them from the Max Scherzer race.
Scherzer is currently the best arm available in free agency and he intends to be paid as suck. Currently represented by Scott Boras, the 30-year-old pitcher is seeking a contract around six years and $155 million, similar to what Jon Lester inked with the Chicago Cubs. Levine says the Yankees are not interested in paying that much.
"The chances of us bringing in a guy for six [years] and $25 million or over in my opinion is virtually none,'' Levine said, via the YES Network. "At the end of the day you have to be realistic in any organization.''
The Yankees have handed out lengthy contracts to pitchers over 30 before and so far have yet to reap the benefits of it. CC Sabathia is 34 and coming off an injured plagued season that saw him miss a majority of the games. He is owed a minimum of $48 million for 2015 and 2016 while getting a $25 million vesting option in 2017. That high salary gets paired with Masahiro Tanaka who is owed $133 million over the next six seasons. The Yankees are not interested in taking on any more money like that for an aging pitcher.
"We are out there looking but it has to be tempered by the reality of the organization. Looking at our pitching staff for example we have two guys with a lot of money and we have to build around that,'' Levine said. "The Steinbrenner tradition is if there is a way to make the team better, (general manager Brian Cashman) is out there trying to make the team better.''
The Yankees could use another good arm. The re-signed Chris Capuano to a one-year deal to go along with Sabathia, Tanaka, Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova who is coming off Tommy John surgery as well. Hiroki Kuroda will turn 40 in the next month and is uncertain to return. ESPNNewYork.com reports the Yankees are interested in making a trade which could get them someone like Cole Hamels, Jordan Zimmermann or Dillon Gee.
