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Yankees News: 3 most team-friendly contracts

By Derek McAdam |
DJ LeMahieu, who should be a New York Yankee for life (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
DJ LeMahieu, who should be a New York Yankee for life (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

The New York Yankees have been known in the past to shell out large contracts to the top tier free agents. However, they have also been able to work out many deals that may have been undervalued to what some players have been able to do on the field.

Brian Cashman has handed out big contracts over his 20+ years as general manager of the Yankees, most recently to Gerrit Cole. Cashman has also given out very team-friendly contracts over the past several years, some of which will be on this list.

These are the three most team-friendly contracts the Yankees currently have. This list does not include players that are in pre-arbitration or are in their arbitration years taking their contract status year by year. If a player has agreed to a long-term deal to cover arbitration years, they can be included in this list.

Most team-friendly contracts – No. 3: Luis Severino

Although Severino has experienced trouble with injuries over the past several seasons, he still has the potential to make this a huge win for the Yankees.

Severino signed a 4-year, $40 million contract before the 2019 season with a $15 million club option for 2023. The contract covered his three years of arbitration and up to two years of free agency, locking Severino in pinstripes until he turns 29.

So far into his extension, Severino has not quite lived up to his contract. He missed most of the 2019 season due to a lat strain and will miss the entire 2020 season due to Tommy John Surgery to repair a partially torn UCL.

Throughout the 2017 and ’18 seasons, Severino had a combined 33-14 record with a 3.19 ERA. He was an All-Star both seasons and finished third in Cy Young voting in 2017. These two seasons were the reason that Cashman decided to lock him up long-term.

If Severino remained healthy and went through arbitration he would be awarded much more than $10 million annually, especially in his second and third years.

If he can come back in 2021 and give the Yankees two, hopefully, three, strong years, the contract will make Cashman look like a genius. If he cannot stay healthy, then the Yankees do not have to keep him beyond the 2022 season.

Adam Ottavino #0 of the New York Yankees – (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Adam Ottavino #0 of the New York Yankees – (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Most team-friendly contracts – No. 2: Adam Ottavino

In attempts to solidify the bullpen, Cashman signed Ottavino to a 3-year, $27 million contract before the 2019 season. Along with Zack Britton, Tommy Kahnle, and Aroldis Chapman, Ottavino would become a trustworthy go-to reliever for Aaron Boone.

After finishing his age 32 season, Ottavino hit free agency for the first time and decided to come back home to the Yankees, as he grew up in Brooklyn. He may have taken a hometown discount, but he was still able to cash in.

Ottavino finished the 2019 season with a 6-5 record in 73 games with a 1.90 ERA in 66.1 innings. One of Ottavino’s biggest concerns was driving up his pitch count and giving batter’s friendly counts to hit on. He walked 40 batters in 2019, which was a career-high.

Ottavino’s best quality was being able to work his way out of that trouble. There were several instances where he gave the opposing team the lead, but 90% of the time he was able to hold the lead, or at least not cause any further deficit.

For $9 million annually, Ottavino gives the Yankees a utility reliever. Although he mainly saw his role as the 6th or 7th inning guy, he can come in and pitch at any given time, including closing.

Cashman outdid himself with this contract, and it seems like it is going to work out well for the entire length.

DJ LeMahieu #26 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
DJ LeMahieu #26 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Most team-friendly contracts – No. 1: D.J. LeMahieu

If Cashman was given an award for the best contract he has ever dished out to a player, this contract may give him that award.

LeMahieu was signed to a 2 year, $24 million contract that would cover the 2019 and ’20 seasons with the Yankees. Initially, he would be signed as a “5th infielder” that would see decent playing time, but would not see the field every day. Little did he know he would become the Yankees’ MVP.

The 2019 season saw LeMahieu hit .327, slugging 26 home runs and driving in 102 runs in 145 games. He also saw himself as a utility infielder, playing first, second and third base. He was announced to his third All-Star appearance, won his first Silver Slugger Award and finished 4th in AL MVP voting.

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For the 2019 season alone, LeMahieu was well worth the entire $24 million he would be getting paid over two seasons. He has emerged as a fan favorite and is an upcoming free agent that many Yankee fans want Cashman to keep.

What do you think are the most team-friendly contracts Cashman has given out to current Yankees? Leave a comment down below.

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