Yankees: How did they fare this offseason?

The first Yankees Spring Training games of 2018 are set to begin this week, meaning that we can shut the door on this dreadfully slow offseason.

The Giancarlo Stanton trade is undoubtedly the most significant headline this offseason. The Yankees also signed Jace Pederson and Danny Espinosa, as will have the chance to make the major league team out of camp. Let’s also not forget about the acquisition of Russell Wilson, who will only be present for Spring Training.

It was a relatively quiet offseason in the Bronx, and that is okay. The Yankees did not need to make many upgrades given what they had at the end of last season.

The Stanton trade was a result of due diligence and turned out to be an excellent deal. The organization was already prepared to pursue Bryce Harper next year, who will likely demand some $400 million. Since they got Stanton instead, the Yanks save a ton of money and do not have to deal with Harper’s attitude.

Since the Yankees got Stanton instead, the clubs saves a ton of money and as a result, do not have to deal with Harper’s attitude.

With the acquisition of the NL MVP came the departure of Starlin Castro, which was a tough pill to swallow. He was a fan favorite in the Bronx, but with Gleyber Torres coming up, Castro was going to be moved sooner or later.

There were several trade targets that the Yanks reportedly went after, namely Gerrit Cole and Manny Machado. One major theme with these potential trades were prospects, especially the untouchables.

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The level of restraint general manager Brian Cashman showed is fantastic. Not enough can be said about the savviness he’s shown over the past several seasons to turn the Yanks into what they are today.

I do not recall anything that happened and said, “Man, the Yankees missed out on that one.” I guess you could say that about Shohei Ohtani, but it’s not like Cash did not pursue him. Ohtani is an incredibly unique player, but he may not have fit in with the atmosphere of Yankee Stadium. Other than that, the front office has done exceptionally well in not pursuing players they didn’t need.

Going into 2018, the Yankees are arguably the best team in the American League and contenders for their 28th World Series title. They also have one of the best farm systems in all of MLB, meaning they will continue AL supremacy for the next several years. As a fan, you cannot ask for much more than that.

To have a productive offseason does not mean there need to be a dozen transactions. Patience is going to take this team a long way, and that is precisely what the front office is preaching with their performance this winter.

Next: Gary Sanchez won't fly under the radar anymore

It is going to be such a joy to watch baseball’s newest dynasty in its infant stages come this Friday.