Yankees Fans: Most Important News and Rumors from the GM Meetings

Yankees Looking Into Top Free Agents

After not signing a single major league free agents during the 2015-2016 offseason, the New York Yankees once again have a little money to spend following the departures of expensive vets like Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran, Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, and Ivan Nova.

During the GM Meetings they reportedly reached out to many of the biggest names on the market. The Yankees GM confirmed he had contacted the representatives of two of the top available pitchers, Aroldis Chapman and Rich Hill, as well as many of the notable sluggers on the market such as Kendrys Morales, Yoenis Cespedes, and Jose Bautista.

At the moment, the expectation the Yankees will hold competitions during spring training to fill their vacant first base and right field jobs. They have a number of promising corner outfield/first base types in the upper minors who are at least close to MLB ready, so it is unlikely New York will commit big money to a veteran about to enter their decline years.

Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball reported Cashman saying the team may have interest in adding a bat “if we move money.” The plan is still to get under the luxury tax in the next year or two (we should have more clarity on that when the next CBA is hammered out), so the Yankees are unlikely to increase payroll.

That means if they’re going to bring in a big-ticket bat, they’ll likely have to trade a veteran of two first, with Brian McCann and Brett Gardner rumored to be the most likely to depart.