Offseason of decisions for Yankees

Luke Voit, backwards cap atop his head, was disgusted and dismayed.

Eyes downcast, he summed up the New York Yankees’ 11th straight season without a title, the team’s widest expanse of failure since the desert between the Reggie Jackson era and the Derek Jeter renaissance.

“I hate this feeling. It sucks, the third year in a row going through it,” the majorleague home run champion said. “So

I’m going to use it in every workout, every BP session, cage session I have and be ready for spring training” next year.

The 2020 season was so different, with the coronavirus pandemic cutting the schedule from 162 games to 60, sparking a summer camp of training part two and causing Yankee Stadium’s stands to fill with echoes on game nights rather than boisterous fans.

But the denouement was similar to 2019’ s. Aroldis Chapman gave up a home run that eliminated New York from the playoffs, this time Mike Brosseau’s eighthinning drive in Division Series Game 5 against Tampa Bay following a walkoff shot by Houston’s Jose Altuve in the ninth inning of AL Championship Series Game 6.

Not even the addition of ace Gerrit Cole for a $ 324 million, nineyear contract was enough to make the difference. Now general manager Brian Cashman faces a series of key decisions. Bigleague batting champion DJ LeMahieu is eligible for free agency, as are pitchers Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton. New York has a $ 17 million option on pitcher J. A. Happ the team made sure would not become guaranteed and a $ 10 million option on 37yearold outfielder Brett Gardner, the last link to the Yankees’ 2009 champions.

Giancarlo Stanton is expected to keep the $ 218 million and seven guaranteed seasons left in his contract rather than opt out, and reliever Zack Britton appears likely to stay under either player or club options.

“We’re going to get there. I know it. And it’s going to make it all the sweeter,” Aaron Boone said after his third unfulfilling season as manager.

Despite an $ 84 million payroll as adjusted for the shortened season, thirdhighest in the major leagues, the Yankees lost to the $ 29 million Rays, a team whose spending was 28th. Tampa Bay beat the Yankees eight of 10 times during the regular season.

Briefly: The Nationals will not retain two coaches next season. Hitting coach Kevin Long is out, MLB. com reported, as is third base coach Chip Hale, per an MLB Network report. ... Pitchers Roenis Elias, Aaron Barrett and Paolo Espino declined assignments to the minors by the Nationals, making them free agents.