Yankees more concerned with impending contract extensions?

Could it be that the Yankees do not in need another expensive acquisition and are instead, focused on the upcoming contract extensions of their young stars?

All I’ve gathered this offseason from fans on social media is that the Yankees are cheap. This debatable topic cropped up after the Yankees signed shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to a one-year, league minimum deal.

Over the past week, the Yanks have come to terms with infielder D.J. LeMahieu on a two-year, $24 million deal, and RHP Drew Hutchison and OF Matt Lipka to minor league contracts with invitations to major league spring training.

Fans are still demanding Manny Machado and Bryce Harper — or they’ll consider this a failed offseason, which quite frankly is absurd. As I always say, no player deserves a $300 million contract. And you wonder why the concessions cost a ton.

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As we’re well aware, the Yanks have a few players that the organization will need to offer extensions to, long before they hit free agency and therefore will cost a boatload of money.

Presently, we have a bunch of homegrown players that have yet to reach their ceiling, but that doesn’t mean it’s isn’t approaching.

The following players will need to have their contracts adjusted over the next few seasons:

Free Agency/Arbitration eligibility:

• Didi Gregorius (2020) — Sir Didi is a Yankees fan favorites, and he’s done a fantastic job taking over shortstop from Derek Jeter. The organization wants to keep him, and hope that Didi’s recovery from Tommy John surgery is a minor blip in an otherwise lengthy career in pinstripes.
• Aaron Judge (2023) — Under team control until 2020, then arbitration-eligible for three years.
• Gary Sanchez (2023) — Under team control until 2020, then arbitration-eligible for three years.
• Luis Severino (2022) — Heading to arbitration with the Yankees next month. Has two years of arbitration remaining. The club is already haggling with him over $850k, so I’m not sure what to think.
• Miguel Andujar (2024) — Under team control until 2021, then arbitration-eligible for four years.
• Gleyber Torres (2025) — Under team control until 2021, then he has four years of arbitration.
• Aaron Hicks (2020) — Hicks has quickly become one of the best outfielders in baseball, so hopefully, the Yanks offer him a contract extension before the year is out.

As you can see, there’s going to be an enormous amount of salaries that the Yankees will require to splash if they wish to retain their current players. This doesn’t include the current contract that they have with Giancarlo Stanton, who initially received from a 13-year, $325 million deal from the Marlins.

I believe the organization is being wise with their money, especially if they want to retain some semblances of their roster. Contract extensions to Judge, Stanton, Didi, Sanchez, Torres, Hicks and Andujar make future look bright for the Yankees — even if it does come at a cost.

The organization is playing their cards right and are strategizing well-time trades over high-priced free agent, specifically with acquiring James Paxton from the Mariners for top prospect, Justus Sheffield.