Sunday, August 17, 2014

Next Yankees Spending Spree Coming Your Way 2018


We as Yankees fans all enjoyed constantly checking sites like this one, River Avenue Blues, Bleeding Yankee Blue, MLB Trade Rumors, etc. when the Yankees go all in on the free agent market. Personally I spent a ton of time on the computer in the winter of the 2009 season when the Yankees traded for Nick Swisher and signed CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, and AJ Burnett. I was also all over the computer and my iPhone this winter when the Yankees brought in Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, and Masahiro Tanaka. When will the Yankees see another "all in" type free agent spending spree? If my math is correct I can't see one until the 2018 season.

Alex Rodriguez comes off the books after the 2017 season and his 10 year deal worth $275 million plus incentives deal. Rodriguez has the ability to get his contract all the way up to $320 million if he becomes the All Time home run hitter in Major League Baseball. Thankfully for the Yankees, financially anyway, Rodriguez will not be achieving those numbers in New York. The good news is Rodriguez had a signing bonus deferred for the last six seasons but the final payment was paid this January. Immediate $20 million in savings.

Mark Teixeira comes off the books after the 2016 season after signing an eight year deal worth $180 million. With Teixeira leaving the team has an immediate $22.5 million in savings. Carlos Beltran's $15 million also comes off the books after the 2016 season. Martin Prado is also off the books after the 2016 season and so is his $11 million in salary. Brendan Ryan also holds a $1 million player option for 2016 and the team has a $2 million option for Ryan in 2016 meaning that he is likely on the team, or at least on the books, through the season either way.

CC Sabathia's contract runs through 2016 with a vesting option for the 2017 season. The option vests basically if CC has no issues with his left throwing shoulder and isn't reduced to a relief pitcher or is placed on the DL. With CC's knees in the shape they are I wouldn't worry too much about his shoulder at this point. When CC walks the Yankees immediately save an additional $25 million in 2016 if the option doesn't vest or $25 million if the option does vest for 2017.

Masahiro Tanaka may opt out after the 2017 season and walk away from $22 million for each of the 2018 and 2019 seasons and $23 million in 2020. New York would also save chump change in $85K not having to pay for an interpreter, $100K for Tanaka's housing, and would no longer have to buy four round trip first class air tickets from New York to Japan.

New York would still be on the hook for Brian McCann's $17 million, Brett Gardner's $11 million, and Jacoby Ellsbury's $21.1 million and change for the 2018 season and beyond but potentially could see a ton of money coming off the books. If my math is correct the Yankees could potentially find an additional $116.5 million to spend on the 2018 free agent market. Mark your calendars now, it's going to be a long time before it's fun again in New York.


5 comments:

  1. 2018...many folks will be dead at that benchmark date.
    Is that what we have to look forward too ? Waiting for contacts to end ?

    Coming out of the winter signing season, with all of us orgasmic ( yes, we were. )
    Now we have to wait for the commode to be flushed ?....Nonsense.

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  2. You and your math tell me, I can't leave before the end of 2019. I wasn't going to go until the Yankees won #28. That's not right man, I am tired and will be 77 in Sept. I am getting to the point of no return as it is, and you add 5 more years on to it...!
    Maybe, I'll stick around for one more season and that's it...win or loose, I'm out of here.

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  3. Reed you will see #29 and #30 the rate you're going.

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    Replies
    1. You have always been the Optimistic voice of the Site! LOL

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  4. Hey I prefer optimism, easier that way.

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)