The New York Yankees have been among the teams most bandied about as it relates to star free agent Shohei Ohtani.
The two-way star being linked to the team in the Bronx shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Historically, New York has posted one of the largest payrolls in baseball.
From earlier iterations of the Yankees paying out huge sums to Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi to the current duo of Giancarlo Stanton and Gerrit Cole, this has been the name of the game for the Pinstripes.
But it looks like the Yankees are changing up their MO. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, New York is not “believed to be in the mix” for the two-time American League MVP.
Passan points to the Yankees’ reluctance to add the largest contract in North American sports given the status of Cole, Stanton, Aaron Judge and Carlos Rodon on the roster. Those four are set to count a combined $513 million against New York’s payroll over the next four seasons.
Though, the MLB insider does indicate that New York is strongly in on Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He was just posted earlier this month and will likely receive a contract well north of $200 million.
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New York Yankees not in on Shohei Ohtani
Despite posting a mere 82-80 record this past season, New York still owned MLB’s second-largest payroll behind the Mets at $278.6 million. According to Spotrac, said payroll is projected to be at $203.7 million in 2024 when looking at the Yankees’ current roster.
Fresh off a record-breaking second AL MVP award, Ohtani is expected to receive a contract that will pay him north of $500 million.
While he’s not expected to pitch this coming season after undergoing elbow surgery, Ohtani’s presence at the plate will be a boon moving forward. Last season saw the 29-year-old Japanese sensation lead the AL with 44 homers while boasting a .304 average and 1.066 OPS.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman noted earlier in the offseason that they are in the market for a left-handed bat. Ohtani would obviously fit the bill.
“Now I need a center fielder, I need a left fielder, preferably left-handed,” Cashman told reporters earlier in November.
It all seems to be about finances at this point. Ohtani has been linked to the aforementioned Mets as well as the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers and his current Los Angeles Angels squad.
We have to believe that a bidding way is currently taking place for his services. If so, don’t expect the New York Yankees to be involved.