It’s not so much that the Yankees lost to the deservedly reviled Astros, it’s that the ALCS sweep ensured that the World Series would go on as planned without the Yankees a 13th straight year — now two years longer than their infamous Horace Clarke years, 1965-1975.
Considering their World Series-or-bust mission, that’s like dog years, and must feel like 91 years to their understandably impatient fans.
Something’s got to give. And while fans are screaming for all-time nice guy Aaron Boone’s scalp — wouldn’t Don Mattingly be interesting? — we are aiming higher here.
It’s true Boone needs to better grasp the urgency of October. While their bullpen suffered several losses, there’s no reason they needed to lose two games with rookie Clarke Schmidt on the mound and chance burying themselves in Game 3 of the ALCS with trade throw-in Lou Trivino pitching. But let’s be fair here. Miller Huggins wasn’t going to manage this team past the Astros. Boone is handicapped by having unknown kids mostly comprising his coaching staff, and needs as bench coach his very own Don Zimmer type, who helped turn Joe Torre into one of the best managers ever.
Last we heard something relevant from the managing partner, hibernating Hal, he said something smart a year ago, and it’s that it ultimately comes down to the players. Agreed. But don’t blame them, blame the folks responsible for this outmanned roster, starting with Steinbrenner himself.
Hal Steinbrenner Charles Wenzelberg / New York Po
Yankees higher-ups will tell you that you should be able to build a championship roster on $265 million, and while we can’t disagree entirely, it’s apparent now they just aren’t clever enough to do so. The Yankees need to leverage their one great advantage, and that is their financial might. While Boss Junior isn’t as rich as Steve Cohen, he was heir to an organization his father and Ohio friends paid $10 million for in 1973 and is worth about $5 billion today. That puts the profit at $4.99 extra large.
The Yankees also are an annual major financial success, selling tickets and merch as if they’re really a championship club, picking up profits easier than they accumulate worthwhile players. While the team slightly lags, their revenue remains No. 1 every year. In any case, Hal’s M.O. seems to be the opposite of dad’s — treat employees better and never rip players publicly (or say much of anything) but value the bottom line over the standings.
Yes indeed, it’s time to open the coffers. We can live with the owner in hiding as long as we see his dough going for a good cause.
Aaron Judge Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostGM Brian Cashman is surely safe thanks to four early World Series titles, an amazing run of playoff appearances, the occasional bargain success — Clay Holmes, Jose Trevino and Matt Carpenter when he was able-bodied — and surely his unmistakable enthusiasm for Steinbrenner’s tag-sale approach. Some criticize Dave Dombrowski for eschewing analytics groupthink, but he’s now won in Miami, Detroit, Boston and Philly, and nobody is better at selling ownership on spending, which is what’s most needed now.
Anyway, here’s the winning plan. Which admittedly would cost $145.15 million extra, but hey, let’s not forget Boss junior is $4.99 billion to the good already. (Moving the payroll to $400 million probably isn’t happening, but at least let’s do Judge plus one of these other three ideas, anyway!)
Edwin Diaz Getty Images- Re-sign Aaron Judge. Without him, this was a .500 team, and a dull one. That $30.5 million a year offer seemed reasonable back in spring. But now even $40 million is light, even after falling down in the postseason. “That’s gone,” Astros exec Reggie Jackson said. We’ll say $45 million per. No reason the legit home run record holder shouldn’t be the game’s highest-paid player.
- Sign Justin Verlander (or Carlos Rodon if Verlander insists on remaining an Astro). The Yankees last year tried for Verlander at $25 million, which is ultimately what he’ll get in Houston once he opts out. He’d serve two purposes: recreate the one-two punch he had with ace Gerrit Cole in Houston, and hurt the Astros, a necessity now. If he won’t come, try for Rodon, who’s more dependable that Jacob deGrom, who may go south (Texas?) if he passes on the Mets. I’m figuring $43.3 million for Verlander (same as Max Scherzer), $25 million for backup plan Rodon.
- Sign Trea Turner or Carlos Correa. They passed on Bryce Harper, who would have been even better for New York than Philly, plus Manny Machado and Correa (that one-year deal that would have worked much better than taking the Isiah Kiner-Falefa/Josh Donaldson combo). This would allow them to trade Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza, the very combo that could have netted Luis Castillo at the trade deadline. Either guy should be about $35.1 million (Correa’s Twins salary).
- Sign Edwin Diaz. It’s great the Yankees had three All-Star closers, but ultimately their relief riches came up a man or two short. Why not sign the game’s best closer — $22 million is about right, and I’d lure new Mets fan Timmy Trumpet for another $50,000 as incentive to move crosstown. So that’d be $22,050,000, bringing the grand total to $145.15 million. Happy spending.
