With all of the hand-wringing over the Yankees fiscal restraint this off-season I have been wondering what their actual plan is. I am a Red Sox fan, and have felt for the past decade that what the Yankees SHOULD do, and therefore what I hope they do NOT do, is let the albatross contracts expire and spend most of their fiscal advantage on player development, international players, the draft. The Dodgers appear to be heading in this direction, and it scares the crap out of me.
For people who root against the Yankees, what we should be rooting for is for them to continue to throw money at 32-year-old free agents who are declining. Hopefully, next off-season the Steinbrenners go all-in and spent $500M in the market. That is what I WANT to happen. The Crawford/Gonzalez approach.
Were I rooting FOR the Yankees, I would want them to sign short-term guys, hopefully 29-30 year olds rather than 33-36 year olds. Develop tons of talent, sign young international guys. Spend little to no money next off-season (there is already $200M committed to 10 players for 2016), wait for the albatrosses to go away, and then be ready in 2017-2020 with a young core and the money to fill in around them.
A few Yankee fans of my acquaintance say, no, we can not do that. We can't finish in last place like the Red Sox. 85 wins is a disaster and 75 wins would be grounds firing everyone with a pulse. We must compete for the championship every year.
For you Yankee fans out there, are you willing to sit through a 2-3 year rebuild? Or do want to trade for Miguel Cabrera at the deadline?
For people who root against the Yankees, what we should be rooting for is for them to continue to throw money at 32-year-old free agents who are declining. Hopefully, next off-season the Steinbrenners go all-in and spent $500M in the market. That is what I WANT to happen. The Crawford/Gonzalez approach.
Were I rooting FOR the Yankees, I would want them to sign short-term guys, hopefully 29-30 year olds rather than 33-36 year olds. Develop tons of talent, sign young international guys. Spend little to no money next off-season (there is already $200M committed to 10 players for 2016), wait for the albatrosses to go away, and then be ready in 2017-2020 with a young core and the money to fill in around them.
A few Yankee fans of my acquaintance say, no, we can not do that. We can't finish in last place like the Red Sox. 85 wins is a disaster and 75 wins would be grounds firing everyone with a pulse. We must compete for the championship every year.
For you Yankee fans out there, are you willing to sit through a 2-3 year rebuild? Or do want to trade for Miguel Cabrera at the deadline?