Yankees: Hal Steinbrenner drops hints about offseason in first interview after ALDS

Yankees chairman Hal Steinbrenner had a lot to say on the Michael Kay Show on Tuesday, and fans should feel comfortable.

Hal Steinbrenner’s first State of the Yankees address came sooner than any of us wanted it to, but that doesn’t mean he was devoid of things to say.

Steinbrenner appeared on the Michael Kay Show on Tuesday, and opened up more than we expected on what lies ahead for the team, which is operating in cash-strapped fashion entering the 2020 offseason.

As Big Stein put it, COVID-19 forced the team into “significant losses, more than any other team in baseball.” Perhaps equally importantly, he reflected that he has “no idea” if and when fans will be allowed at the ballpark in 2021, further complicating things.

First and foremost, though, Steinbrenner felt as if he owed the masses an apology. Priority No. 1 for this team was winning a World Series, a goal they frankly didn’t approach in 2020. He certainly didn’t run and hide from that.

As for what comes next? Steinbrenner was open and declarative about certain personnel moves, perhaps peeling back the curtain more than we expected.

Just as notable as the names he highlighted were the ones he omitted, too.

Aaron Boone, the premier focal point of much of the criticism after the disastrous Game 2 of the ALDS, will be returning for 2021. Steinbrenner did not leave that fragment lingering for long.

Come on, come on, Yankees fans. You had to have expected that declaration.

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Much of the speculated-on roster turnover this offseason hinges on two free agents who’ve been key to the Yankees’ ethos for these past several seasons: infielder DJ LeMahieu, who changes the equation on offense, and Masahiro Tanaka, who’s always been in the middle of the rotation.

Throwing fuel on the recent fire, Tanaka’s free agency didn’t merit a mention. LeMahieu, though? Steinbrenner dropped the type of breadcrumbs that would indicate the team is prepared to make a significant run at retaining his services.

Combined with a Tuesday morning MLB.com report that theorized many expect LeMahieu to return to the Bronx, this process seems promising.

Steinbrenner also had encouraging words for someone who many of us have counted out of the 2021 mix: Gary Sanchez.

The preferred option for all of us has always involved Sanchez returning, getting right, finding his consistency, and mashing in the Bronx. Lord knows he’ll surely find his timing the second he’s exiled elsewhere, if the Yankees ever actually pulled the trigger on a deal. Might as well keep him if he’s at the absolute valley of his value.

Also not getting the time of day in this roster assessment, for what it’s worth? Luke Voit and Aroldis Chapman, two players on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of 2020 value. Make of that what you will, too.

Regardless of how you feel about Boone, it seems that fans who prescribed gloom, doom and turmoil may have been a bit reactionary. It seems that those in charge understand LeMahieu’s value, which is intrinsic to the entire offseason philosophy.

If the team executes that portion of their plan, then everything else should turn out just fine.

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