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Yankees’ latest shortstop rumor will make you want to throw furniture

Adam Weinrib|
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 31: Andrelton Simmons #9 of the Minnesota Twins throws the ball to first base to get out Frank Schwindel of the Chicago Cubs in the third inning of the game at Target Field on August 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Cubs defeated the Twins 3-1. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 31: Andrelton Simmons #9 of the Minnesota Twins throws the ball to first base to get out Frank Schwindel of the Chicago Cubs in the third inning of the game at Target Field on August 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Cubs defeated the Twins 3-1. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

If this complete reversal of everything we’ve heard about the Yankees’ offseason turns out to be true, then I will hop into a kayak and zip down the East River.

And if missing out on Justin Verlander was all it took to cause them to pivot to saving money yet again, then this team and ownership group has lost the plot. In that case, they might as well climb onto the stadium roof and scream into a megaphone, “We don’t care about Gerrit Cole’s prime!”

We’re trying not to overreact over here. We’d rather weigh the big-budget reports with the caveats and try to balance them out.

Of course, with recency bias AND confirmation bias both working overtime … we’re pretty worried about Wednesday’s Daily News report that claims the Yankees don’t plan on dipping into the high-dollar shortstop market.

What happened to Ken Rosenthal saying the Yankees have every intention of making this a 2009 offseason? What happened to Jon Heyman saying on Tuesday night that the Yankees and Dodgers would be battling it out for Corey Seager? Where did the $290 million budget projections go?

No matter. Yankee fans enter every offseason pre-angry at Hal Steinbrenner for not spending money, and articles like this one insinuating they won’t be diving into the deep end whatsoever do nothing to change that perception. It’s much easier to agree with what you’re scared of.

The Daily News claims the Yankees won’t spend big on shortstops this offseason.

After taking a step back, this really feels like a misguided leverage play from someone in the Yankees’ camp. Everyone and their entire extended family has been throwing out shortstop prognostications since the season ended, from Correa to Seager to Story to Semien … but not below that tier.

Andrelton Simmons and Freddy Galvis? Thanks, but no thanks. The Red Sox were able to thrive down the stretch with Jose Iglesias … because they had Xander Bogaerts at short, and used him at second. The Yankees, in plainest terms, do not have a shortstop. Their shortstop, as of now, is Tyler Wade. If they don’t spend to significantly upgrade the Wade spot, they will be a laughingstock.

But then again … maybe they’re just a laughingstock!

Everyone assumed Brian Cashman was buttering up Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe for a trade, but … what if they really intend to stand pat until one, or both, is ready? The main problem there is that might be 2024, and the 2022 and 2023 seasons do, in fact, have to be played.

Gerrit Cole will be 31 and 32 years old in those seasons. Something tells me you might want to compete before he’s 33.

Bottom line? Yeah, we like Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza, too. But putting all your chips on their potential without coming up with a viable 2022 plan/2023 plan if they falter is foolish, especially for an organization as wealthy and “committed to winning” as the Yankees.

Plus, isn’t Peraza boarding a plane to Oakland any day now?

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