Steinbrenner: ‘We are not done trying to improve’
TAMPA — Speaking to reporters for the first time this spring, Hal Steinbrenner rehashed how“last year was a failure on every level.”
“I was embarrassed,” the Yankees owner said. “We were all embarrassed. I mean, I don’t think there’s one person in this organization that wasn’t embarrassed.”
Steinbrenner called the season, which saw the Yankees miss the playoffs, a “disaster,” copying the word his general manager, Brian Cashman, used last year.
Steinbrenner also repeated talking points on derailing injuries, underachieving veterans and how glad the organization is that so many players reported to Tampa early.
“I’m excited. I think these guys really believe they have something to prove, and they’re ready to do it,” Steinbrenner said.
“I will tell you we had a large number of guys the entire month of January over at the Himes complex voluntarily working out, getting in shape, ramping it up, more so than I ever remember.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
Some didn’t think it was a coincidence that Steinbrenner chose to speak a day after social rumors regarding Blake Snell sent fans into a frenzy. But Steinbrenner had no new moves to announce.
He did say, however, that he is generally open to additions.
“I think we have a championship-caliber team right now, but we haven’t stopped looking to improve and we never will,” Steinbrenner said. “We’re able to do whatever we’re able to do all the way up to the trade deadline. That’s a long time from now.
“I’m not gonna get into free agents. I’m just going to tell you that we continue to look at a lot of different options. And given where we are payroll-wise, any addition to the club is going to be a costly one, but I’m still willing to consider anything that comes my way, anything Cash and his team brings my way.
“I’ll leave it at that. But we are not done trying to improve this team.”
Steinbrenner, who said that nothing is “close,” alluded to the Yankees’ luxury tax payroll, which is already over the highest threshold. That means any additional moves the Yankees make — such as signing a reigning Cy Young Award winner to a deserving contract — will be taxed at a 110% rate in 2024.
According to Cot’s Contracts, the Yankees’ payroll is just over $306 million. In the past Steinbrenner has said that it shouldn’t take a $300 million payroll to win a championship.
“I still agree with that,” he said, but he noted that Yankees didn’t have much moneycomeoffthebooksand that they started their offseason around $250 million. They have since added Juan Soto, Marcus Stroman, Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham at notable — if not significant — financial costs.
However, Snell and ex-yankee Jordan Montgomery are still free agents. Both are represented by Scott Boras.
Steinbrenner wouldn’t say if he’s talked to that specific agent, but he did say he’s spoken to “certain” player reps recently.
The Yankees, meanwhile, have some questions in their rotation after Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes and Stroman all battled injuries and struggled at times in 2023.
“I think our starting rotation is really good,” Steinbrenner said, but he noted that the Yankees lost multiple starters in the Soto trade.
“So the depth is somewhat concerning to me, but the rotation as it stands is a very good one. I don’t think you ever have enough pitching. I say that every year because somebody asks me the question every year.”
If everyone stays healthy, the Yankees will open the season with a rotation that includes Gerrit Cole, Rodón, Stroman, Cortes and Clarke Schmidt. On Wednesday Aaron Boone reiterated that Schmidt is a starter.
Steinbrenner, on the other hand, highlighted pitching prospect Will Warren as someone who could debut this year when discussing the Yankees’ rotation depth.