Yankees have important decision to make on two expensive aging veterans

The New York Yankees plan to operate this offseason, until told otherwise, that they have to accommodate a massive expenditure on 26-year-old superstar Juan Soto. Ideally, he'll be in pinstripes for the next 13 years. That would add a joyful anchor to the team's long-term payroll, which has them weighing any and all options for shedding short-term money. Unless they can structure Soto's deal with escalators or deferrals (they won't), the AAV is going to intimidate Hal Steinbrenner into begging for unnecessary remorse elsewhere.

He can afford it. He can afford all of it. But you'd better believe he's going to act like he can't.

Of course, there's also a performance angle baked into some of the Yankees' short-term costs. While Steinbrenner is correct that technically a World Series can be won with a smaller payroll than the Yankees currently sport, it always seems to help. In fact, they just got boatraced by a team in the Los Angeles Dodgers that spent carefully on talent at every turn, through the 2023-24 offseason and trade deadline.

"Talent" is the operative word, though. At this moment, the Yankees are paying two players for 2025 and 2026 who didn't receive a single rep during their World Series run: injured-maybe-not-injured utility man DJ LeMahieu, and venerable No. 5 starter Marcus Stroman, whose stuff dipped through the summer.

It's highly unlikely the Yankees will be able to get out from under either contract entirely, but now more than ever they must decide how much of each deal they're willing to eat in trade, especially after completing an October run without the participation of either player.

Yankees must make decisions on DJ LeMahieu, Marcus Stroman contract details

LeMahieu, who subtracted an almost impossible 1.6 bWAR from the 2024 Yankees, has undoubtedly reached his limit in the Bronx. He also happens to be the man who most recently homered from the first base position for the vaunted Yankees (back in July), which feels insane.

LeMahieu is owed $15 million for each of the next two years, and it is borderline impossible to believe anyone will trade for him unless the Yankees eat the full salary or include a top-10 prospect and ask for minimal relief. That is not worth their time; they should just take their medicine here and absorb the full cost in a DFA.

Stroman, who was quite valuable in the season's first half, soaked up innings but felt limited and nibble-prone in the second. His 2026 option vested based on his 2024 work, and kudos to the Yankees for not being chintzy there. Still, his $18.3 million annual value for the next two years feels like an unnecessary expenditure for the Yankees, especially after a silent playoff run. If the Yanks pay 50% and attach a prospect lottery ticket (15-20 range), can they find a buyer for the 2023 All-Star? That feels more likely than receiving any relief on LeMahieu.

Regardless, the Yankees should be working the phones doggedly to make certain they exhaust all options here before moving on.