Plenty of FA questions for Yanks
The Yankees came in second behind the Red Sox in the AL East, lost to them in the ALDS and then saw Boston win the World Series on Sunday night, when they finished off the Dodgers in five games.
And Boston was installed as the favorites in 2019, with William Hill giving them 11-2 odds to repeat, followed by Houston (6-1), the Dodgers (13-2) and then the Yankees (7-1).
Of course, those numbers don’t factor in where Manny Machado and Bryce Harper — among other free agents — wind up.
If either lands in The Bronx, the Yankees’ chances in 2019 figure to be much better. For that to happen, the Yankees will almost certainly need to surpass the luxury tax next season, which will go from $197 million to $206 million.
The Yankees were able to reset their tax number by staying under the threshold last season, but that’s no guarantee they’ll go back over next season.
At his season-ending press conference, general manager Brian Cashman said: “I don’t want to speak for [managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner], but my general feeling from him and for us has been not wanting to line the pockets of others to let them utilize that excess against us.’’
Cashman and his front office began its offseason work a week ago when it held organizational meetings and the Yankees have until Wednesday at midnight to make their first major decision of the offseason.
That’s the deadline for the team to pick up Brett Gardner’s $12.5 million option or pay the 11year veteran a $2 million buyout.
Gardner’s role was reduced swiftly late in the season, because of a lack of production, as well as the arrival of Andrew McCutchen. Gardner finished with a .690 OPS and had a .604 OPS in the second half.
Even if the Yankees don’t pick up Gardner’s option, they can try to bring him back for less if the two sides can agree to a new deal.
CC Sabathia, David Robertson, Zach Britton, J.A. Happ and Neil Walker are all free agents, as well.
But the fate of the Yankees’ offseason and beyond will be tied to much more than those players, with Machado and Harper both available.