When a major free agent hits the open market, it’s always anticipated that the New York Yankees will emerge as a primary suitor. It’s an expectation that never really changes, regardless of who the free agent is, how large the Yankees’ payroll is, or what the team’s actual needs might be.
So when an elite infielder like Manny Machado, who’s already a four-time All-Star, who’s still only 26 years old with his prime years ahead of him, and who’s desire to play for the Yankees seemed clear, everyone waited to see how aggressive general manager Brian Cashman would be.
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And then they kept waiting … and waiting … and waiting, only to learn after Machado agreed to a 10-year, $300 million contract with the San Diego Padres that the Yankees never formally made an offer.
So what gives? Why was the Yankees’ pursuit of Machado — and we assume the same applies to Bryce Harper — so subdued?
It came down to five words according to Cashman.
“You can’t have ’em all.”
Asked Brian Cashman if the #Yankees talked dollars with Manny Machado over dinner, and how legitimate their interest was. His response: pic.twitter.com/kOFaKl3FIE
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) February 22, 2019
“Even though you’re the New York Yankees, you can’t have ’em all,” Cashman told the media on Friday. “And so, we stay engaged with what’s available and gravitate toward what we feel we can secure given the current available dollars in the marketplace from our perspective as well as the mesh with our team.”
Perhaps it would have been a different story had rookie infielders Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres not established themselves as impact players in 2018. Cashman was quick to express his confidence in Andujar especially. It was his ascension at third base that filled a primary need and essentially blocked Machado’s clearest path to New York.
But there was still the matter at shortstop, where Didi Gregorius remains on the mend following offseason Tommy John surgery. The Yankees know Gregorius will return during the 2019 season, but they don’t know how soon or how productive he’ll be. That seemingly created an opening to sign Machado, knowing they could sort out the logjam later if need be.
Instead, the Yankees went with a stopgap option, signing Troy Tulowitzki. With free agent infielder D.J. LeMahieu also added to the mix in a utility role, it became clear Machado to the Yankees wasn’t happening.
It’s a reality Yankees fans still aren’t thrilled about. But as Cashman notes, it’s going to take money, lots and lots of money, just to keep the Yankees’ current core in place. They’ve already locked up young ace Luis Severino, but paydays are eventually coming for Andujar, Torres and certainly Aaron Judge.
Making the commitment that Machado required was going to make money tight even for the loaded Yankees. That’s especially true with the team now seemingly focused on remaining under the luxury tax threshold. And the truth is, even without Machado, their future is no less brighter than it would be with him.
The Yankees can’t have ’em all. In this case, they don’t need ’em all, either.
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