Yankees make awful ‘revenge’ signing as Trevor Story chooses Red Sox

New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has been outspoken about wanting to avoid a last-ditch spending spree before Opening Day.

With shortstop the last position the Yankees could justify splurging on, Steinbrenner’s comments all but ruled out a move for one of Carlos Correa, who has since signed a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Twins, and Trevor Story.

On Saturday, though, insider Jon Heyman of MLB Network stoked the Story rumors by conveying the Yankees’ interest in the former Rockies slugger as a “short-term” option to bide time until one of their prospects was ready to start.

Well, Sunday morning came around and the Yankees underwhelmed fans yet again. Not only will Story not be coming to the Bronx, but he chose the Boston Red Sox as his next club. Pretty much a worse-case scenario for New York, right?

At face value, without question. However, the terms of Story’s contract suggests Boston might have overpaid for the coveted shortstop considering they have a perennial All-Star in Xander Bogaerts holding down the fort at SS.

Rumored Yankees target Trevor Story has signed with the Red Sox.

While you can debate whether the Red Sox overpaid to land Story’s signature, he adds to what was already a stacked Boston lineup. As for the Yankees, missing out on another big-name free agent simply aligns with what has been a highly disappointing offseason to date.

It’d be one thing if New York turned around and made a quality signing of their own. If you expected that to be the case you haven’t been paying attention. How does signing veteran utility man — and former Red Sox — Marwin Gonzalez sound?

Sorry, Brian Cashman, but this does NOT qualify as a revenge signing. From 2014 to 2019, Gonzalez, always a solid and versatile defender, was a league-average hitter. Over the last two seasons, though, he’s slashed .204.286/.320 with 10 home runs, 50 RBIs and a 60 OPS+.

As expected, it’s a minor-league deal for the 33-year-old, who will report to spring training once the deal becomes official.

In a vacuum, we can understand why the Yankees backed out of the Story sweepstakes. Not only did the Red Sox pay a premium, but it reaffirms the club’s commitment to prospects Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza.

At the same time, though, it puts more pressure on the likes of Gleyber Torres (whom Story likely would’ve replaced), Aaron Hicks, Joey Gallo, and DJ LeMahieu to bounce back from huge offensive letdowns just a season ago.

Time will tell if the gamble pays off.

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