Dealing from strength
Hal not out to trade prospects, but won’t reject idea
Hal Steinbrenner’s moment of truth might be coming earlier than anticipated. It could force the Yankees’ managing general partner to forego the methodology that got him to this point and dive back into the frame of mind that long identified this franchise.
If the Yankees keep playing so well, they will have to seriously consider trading prized youngsters to better equip them for a 2017 championship run that few, if anyone, saw coming.
“That’s clearly going to be the second half of July,” Steinbrenner said Wednesday at Major League Baseball’s Manhattan headquarters, where he attended the quarterly owners’ meetings. “We’re going to see where we’re at, what options are available and what those options would cost. That’s something we go through every [year], the last two weeks of July.
“And you know us. Every year, we think we’re in it. That’s why we go through that exercise the last two weeks in July.”
Last year, when the Yankees went through that exercise, they decided to trade relievers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, starting pitcher Ivan Nova and veteran bat Carlos Beltran in an attempt to reboot their farm system. Just as telling, in the several years prior to that, they didn’t trade any of their top minor league players. In 2015, the Yankees watched the Blue Jays load up in July — and ultimately overtake them in the AL East — as they largely stood pat and protected Greg Bird, Aaron Judge and Luis Severino.
“I think we’ve been pretty consistent about not trading away the young talent the last three to four years. I think, in part, that consistency has paid off in several areas,” Steinbrenner said. “So that’s not something I’m looking to do, is trade away our top prospects.”
Yet if these Yankees, fueled by Severino and Judge, among many other contributors, can stay atop the divi- sion as the July 31 non-waivers trade deadline arrives, they will owe it to themselves and their fan base to be on the buying side this time.
They have developed an enviable surplus of prospects, too many for all of them to actually play for the Yankees someday. Enough so that the Yankees can deal a blue-chip guy or two — let’s say Clint Frazier and Jorge Mateo, for argument’s sake — and land a starting pitcher or reliever of note.
“I don’t know if I will be more open to it,” Steinbrenner said of such a possibility, “but I will absolutely divert all of my attention to any one deal that’s brought across my table. That’s the way I’ve always been. I’ll do the research. I’ll read the scouting reports. I’ll talk to [general manager Brian Cashman] and all his people. And I’ll consider any option.” In other matters:
Steinbrenner didn’t sound concerned about Chapman, the $86 million closer who resides on the disabled list with inflammation in the rotator cuff of his left shoulder.
“I’m not [concerned], be- cause he is a physical specimen,” Steinbrenner said. “He said he’s had this issue in the past. It’s not uncommon.
“He’ll bounce back and he’s a strong guy, as we all know.”
Regarding the temporary closer, Dellin Betances, whom team president Randy Levine derided in February for not being a closer, Steinbrenner said: “Dellin knows he’s got a job to do. He does have a job to do. I think he’s going to do a great job.”
Asked whether infield prospect Gleyber Torres, currently at Double-A Trenton, could reach the big leagues this year, Steinbrenner said: “It’s a good question. Not only is the ability there, but he’s very mature for his age. He really is. I think he’s going to come fast. I just don’t know how fast. Long way to go.
“We don’t want to these guys faster than they need to be pushed, but he’s one that really has the potential to move quickly.”
“Clearly there’s a very good chance” of the Yankees’ payroll dropping below the luxury-tax threshold, which will be $197 million, next year, Steinbrenner said. He added: “At the same time, still having a significant amount of money to spend where we feel we need to spend it. And we will, if we feel we need to spend it.”
Of his most significant concern, Steinbrenner said, “I don’t think there’s a year that can go by of any owner not worried about starting pitching at some level.”
He noted the Yankees will have some openings in the starting rotation, with Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka all eligible for free agency.