3 former Yankees Brian Cashman should avoid signing in free agency
By Adam Weinrib
2. David Robertson
Unless the move comes at the absolute cheapest price, the Yankees shouldn’t reunite with David Robertson.
Devastatingly, David “Houdini” Robertson’s problems began nearly the second he cashed in with the Philadelphia Phillies on a two-year deal.
Within seven outings in 2019 (6.2 innings), his arm was barking. By the time 2020 began, it was official: Tommy John surgery was necessary for D-Rob, who luckily picked up the cash before his arm tragically gave out. With a snapdragon curveball like that, a regression to the injury mean always felt assured for one of our favorite relievers of all time, and the Yankees (unfortunately!) made the right move letting him take his big money deal elsewhere.
But after Robertson’s $12 million team option was declined (for the low, low cost of a $2 million buyout), he’s now officially on the market again at the age of 35 (going on 36), and the Yankees need to resist the temptation — unless he’s willing to take a $1 million flyer after the rest of the team’s spending has ceased.
You can make the argument the Yanks should’ve paid Robertson after 2014 when they let him walk to Chicago — after all, they ended up paying for the end of that deal in 2017 and 2018 anyway. We’ll never forget Robertson’s first stint in pinstripes, or his remarkable role in the ’17 playoff run, capping a 1.03 regular season stretch with a tremendous October.
But that time has passed. He’ll always be a Yankee, but of a bygone era. No more.