The 5 Free Agents The Yankees Should Avoid This Winter

Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Overview

A year ago, Yankees’ fans were up in arms at the perceived second-rate talent that was being run out on the field day-in and day-out throughout the season. Gone were mainstays Nick Swisher and Russell Martin, injured and absent most of the season was the Captain, Derek Jeter, first baseman Mark Teixeira, and third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Not to mention, Curtis Granderson having one of the worst years of his career, after being injured not once, but twice due to getting plunked. Sometimes luck just happens that way.

Move ahead to the winter. The Yankees still could not make a decision as to whether they would try and reset their luxury tax percentage by staying under the $189 million dollar threshold, or if they were willing to blow past it once again. Their decision was made for them, when homegrown second baseman, Robinson Cano, pulled a Yankees on the Yankees, and signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. The Bombers were left with egg on their face, and a big lineup presence to replace. There was talk that Brett Gardner would get dealt for Brandon Phillips, and on and on it went. Rumors, etc. In the end, the Steinbrenner Brothers–Hal and Hank, opened the checkbook, signed Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran, and Masahiro Tanaka for a combined amount of almost HALF A BILLION dollars. That doesn’t include the signings of Brian Roberts and Kelly Johnson.

Here we sit, with 10 games remaining in the 2014 regular season, and the Yankees will once again go through October without a playoff appearance. Money will indeed come off the books, as Jeter is headed to retirement, the same could be said for Hiroki Kuroda. Ichiro Suzuki won’t be back as a 41-year-old fourth outfielder. Chase Headley could be back if the price is right, same with newly-minted fourth outfielder Chris Young. David Robertson could be experiencing his Swan Song in the Bronx, and like Cano, could chase the big money elsewhere, leaving rookie sensation Dellin Betances to take over the closer’s role, much like the Sandman, Mariano Rivera did back in 1997 after established closer and World Series MVP, John Wetteland chased the almighty dollar.

What will the Yankees do to combat another October without playoff baseball? Since the minor league system is developing at the lower levels, free agency is the best option to plug the holes that the Yankees have heading into 2015. The class is relatively deep, but there are some pitfall names they need to avoid. Let’s take a look at the five free agents the Yankees need to avoid like the plague this winter.