Hal Steinbrenner’s criteria for Yankees trade moves baffle expectations

NEW YORK — Despite the lack of successful acquisitions and the team’s high payroll, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has affirmed his intention to be proactive during this year’s trade deadline. But there are inherent contradictions in what he said and seeing the Yankees’ past deals and salary size.

During his address at the owner’s meetings held in Manhattan, the managing general partner expressed his unwavering commitment to invest both financial resources and prospects before the August 1 trade deadline. This investment aims to enhance the team’s potential for capturing a championship title.

According to Hal Steinbrenner, if there is a specific area where he strongly believes the team needs improvement to achieve greater success, he is open to making the necessary moves.

A review of the 2022 Yankees deals

Last year, the Yankees actively engaged in four separate trades to strengthen their Major League roster before the trade deadline. These transactions involved sacrificing a notable portion of their pitching talent from the farm system. Unfortunately, each of those deals resulted in players getting injured, and the most prominent trade, which involved sending four prospects to the Athletics in return for starter Frankie Montas and reliever Lou Trivino, ultimately proved to be a major disappointment.

Despite the unfavorable outcome, Hal Steinbrenner remains resolute and has no feelings of remorse. He continues to stand by the decision-making process that preceded the Montas trade, including the thorough discussions regarding the pitcher’s injury history and the determination to fully commit to the transaction.

Hal Steinbrenner affirmed his willingness to repeat the decision, emphasizing that despite the lack of success with Montas, he would still trade a few minor-league pitchers again given the circumstances.

Therefore, Hal Steinbrenner’s willingness to invest in prospect capital appears limited but not entirely absent. In his remarks, he specifically mentioned highly regarded prospects such as Jasson Domínguez, Spencer Jones, and Austin Wells, indicating his desire to build around the organization’s top assets, similar to their current focus on shortstop Anthony Volpe. Furthermore, considering the Yankees’ successful development of pitchers in their minor-league system trades like the Montas deal are less painful as they have a strong pipeline of pitching talent.

Hal Steinbrenner’s payroll conundrum

However, there are concerns regarding the financial aspect. The Yankees currently boast a payroll of $278 million, which may vary depending on factors such as player injuries and promotions from the minor leagues throughout the season. This figure already surpasses the thresholds of the first three tiers in the league’s luxury tax structure.

The highest tier, which is set at $290 million, has humorously been referred to as the “Steve Cohen tax,” paying homage to the Mets’ owner and his lavish expenditures since taking charge in Queens.

Hal Steinbrenner expressed his lack of concern about surpassing the luxury tax threshold, emphasizing that trade deadline acquisitions usually do not incur significant financial burdens since teams are only responsible for a portion of the player’s salary for the remaining third of the season (unless there are extended team control rights). He indicated being open to various possibilities but acknowledged that spending extravagantly beyond the $300 million mark is not practical, considering the financial impact of the pandemic since 2020. He pointed out that all organizations have experienced revenue losses, making it unsustainable to maintain such a high payroll.

Hal Steinbrenner calls for a balanced team

Hal Steinbrenner expressed his belief that in New York City, fans have a strong desire for star players. He emphasized the importance of having experienced veterans on the team, as well as a balanced combination of veterans and young players.

According to Hal Steinbrenner, it is still too early to determine the specific acquisitions the Yankees may pursue before the trade deadline. He acknowledged that there could be significant changes in the coming weeks, as the team is currently dealing with various injuries. Hal Steinbrenner mentioned the anticipation surrounding left-hander Carlos Rodón‘s debut and the hope that right-hander Luis Severino can remain healthy and improve his performance. Severino has struggled since returning from the injured list, recording a 6.48 ERA in five starts.

Hal Steinbrenner acknowledged the importance of having a strong starting pitching rotation and expressed the belief that one can never have too much pitching depth. He emphasized the uncertainty surrounding the Yankees’ current pitching staff, aside from ace Gerrit Cole, particularly mentioning the concerns related to injured pitcher Nestor Cortes and the regression of some other arms. These factors may lead the Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman to prioritize acquiring a top-quality starting pitcher.

Yankees’ bullpen still needs reinforcement

The Yankees’ bullpen, despite being one of the strongest in baseball, could still benefit from the addition of another high-leverage reliever. While the recent performance of Clay Holmes has been impressive, with only one earned run allowed in his last 19 innings and a crucial appearance in Tuesday’s thrilling victory against the Mets, it provides some reassurance that the team may not require a closer acquisition. However, reinforcing the bullpen remains a consideration to further strengthen the team’s pitching depth.

The Yankees may also have their sights set on left field and bolstering their bench depth. The decision to not address the left field position during the offseason still raises questions, although Hal Steinbrenner believes the team did enough in that regard. However, the performance from various players in left field this season has been subpar, ranking among the league’s worst. While veterans like Jake Bauers, Willie Calhoun, and Billy McKinney have performed well in their opportunities recently, if the chance arises to acquire a bona fide starting left fielder in the summer, it would be unwise to pass up such an opportunity. Strengthening the left field position and enhancing the team’s bench depth would be priorities for the Yankees.

Ohtani is a target for the Yankees

The Yankees could potentially be interested in pursuing the services of Shohei Ohtani, the standout two-way player for the Angels who excels as both a pitcher and a hitter. Ohtani’s unique abilities make him a highly sought-after talent. However, if the Angels were to make him available for trade, it would likely require an extraordinary package of prospects to acquire him. While it is more plausible for the Yankees to pursue Ohtani in free agency when he becomes available this winter, securing his services would likely involve a monumental contract, potentially setting a new precedent in the league.

The upcoming trade market is expected to be unusually thin across all positions. The addition of multiple Wild Card spots in each league has resulted in more teams remaining in playoff contention as August approaches. These teams are reluctant to make significant changes to their rosters when they still have a chance to secure a postseason berth. As a result, there will be only a limited number of teams willing to be sellers, and they may not possess the type of players that the Yankees would be interested in acquiring. Furthermore, the scarcity of available sellers means that there will be a higher number of buyers in the market, leading to inflated asking prices for potential trade targets.

The Yankees may explore unconventional avenues and make unexpected moves to uncover value in various areas. Last year’s surprising and daring trade that sent Jordan Montgomery to the Cardinals resulted in the acquisition of Harrison Bader, who has proven to be an excellent fit in center field when he is not injured. Owner Hal Steinbrenner expressed openness to considering a contract extension for Bader, highlighting the potential long-term value he brings to the team. It raises the question of whether the Yankees would be willing to part ways with an established player on their roster instead of relying solely on prospects to facilitate trade and potentially secure a more significant return.

While rental players are often sought after during the trade deadline, there are instances when promising young talents with several years of team control become available. A notable example from last year was the Yankees’ acquisition of reliever Scott Effross from the Cubs. At the time of the trade, Effross had not yet entered the arbitration phase of his career. The Yankees exchanged pitching prospect Hayden Wesneski to secure Effross, who had the potential to become a valuable asset in their bullpen. Unfortunately, Effross suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, preventing him from contributing to the team’s bullpen this season as initially anticipated.

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