New York Yankees: 3 Contracts that could ruin the club's future

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The New York Yankees are built to win a World Series in the next few years. Just how long they are able to remain true contenders due to the luxury tax threshold is unclear, as the club has a number of big contracts that could come back to hurt them later.

The Yankees’ way of winning for many years was to buy their way to a World Series, combining veterans around a good prospect base. George Steinbrenner was known for allowing the team to spend whatever it takes to bring championships to New York.

First, it was Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettite who headlined the prospect core for the Yankees. The Yankees would build teams around them, usually with free agents being overpaid millions of dollars to make a run at championships.

Fast forward 25 years later and there is a similar process taking shape. Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Gleyber Torres, and Luis Severino make up the new group. Brian Cashman put together a solid prospect pool that would be the foundation, supporting them by trading for or signing elite talent, sometimes overpaying to get a certain player.

The Yankees currently have several lucrative contracts that could impact the franchise over the next decade. These are three contracts that could ruin the team’s future.

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JUNE 09: Aaron Hicks #31 of the New York Yankees runs out an RBI double scoring Cameron Maybin #38 to take the lead d10 against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on June 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

3. Aaron Hicks

Contract: 7 years, $70 million

Although Hicks’ contract is not lucrative in terms of AAV, it could hurt the Yankees in the long run. Hicks is tied to the club until at least 2025. There is a club option for the 2026 season.

Hicks is currently recovering from Tommy John Surgery. He is the second Yankee position player to have the surgery in the last two seasons after Didi Gregorius had it last year.

Hicks is one of the few left-handed bats in the Yankees lineup and has found modest success at Yankee Stadium. His contract is not as bad as it seems to be, but he has had trouble staying healthy.

Since the beginning of the 2018 season, Hicks has had three separate IL stints and would be missing a good portion of the 2020 season had it started on time. If the Yankees were looking to trade him, teams may not be willing to take him given that history.

Yankees’ stud prospect Jasson Dominguez seems likely to replace Hicks within the next few years, but the question is if they will be able to unload his contract when that time comes with several years remaining.

Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees – (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

2. Giancarlo Stanton

Contract: 13 years, $325 million

When Stanton was acquired from the Marlins after the 2017 season, he was coming off an MVP season that saw him belt 59 home runs. It would seem as if every team in baseball would want to have his services since Miami was doing a complete fire sale, but his contract turned many teams away.

Stanton signed the contract after the 2014 season, which runs through 2027 with a club option for 2028.

Cashman took a flyer on Stanton, knowing that he was putting himself in a similar situation to Alex Rodriguez’s contract, who had signed a 10-year deal when he was 32. Stanton may not be that old, but his tenure with the Yankees will be exactly 10 years once his contract is up.

Stanton was brought to the Yankees in the hopes that they could create a lineup of good hitters from the first batter to the last. Stanton has had modest success in the Bronx but suffered from injuries last season.

He can be a good piece for the next few years but is going to cause the Yankees salary problems down the road. Stanton’s contract is not going to be taken by anyone unless the Yankees pay a heaping portion of the deal. It looks like the Yankees are going to be stuck with Stanton until the end of his deal.

Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees – (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

1. Gerrit Cole

Contract: 9 years, $324 million

Stanton’s contract is going to hurt the Yankees for many years to come, but Cole’s contract is even worse. Cole may have been overpaid, but what hurts the Yankees more than anything is that he is being paid $36 million every single year for almost a decade until 2028.

The one positive of getting Cole is that the Yankees have an instant shot of being favorites to win a World Series. But is it worth paying Cole over a quarter of $1 billion to win a single World Series and watch many key players walk away?

Cole’s contract means that either James Paxton or Masahiro Tanaka will hit free agency in November, and possibly both. It could also mean that Gary Sanchez and Gleyber Torres do not get a payday from the Yankees.

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Cole is an elite talent who is coming off an incredible season that saw him finish second in Cy Young voting. Many Yankees fans wanted him in pinstripes this off-season, and their wish was granted.

But it could mean that many current Yankees who are looking for big contracts over the next few years are going to have to look for those big contracts from other teams. Cole will not be leaving the Bronx anytime soon, so that is the harsh reality.

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Yankees: 3 contracts that could ruin the team’s future