Just some days faraway from Trent Grisham’s acceptance of the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying provide, Brian Cashman insisted that the Yankees nonetheless have the monetary sources wanted to fill out their roster this offseason.
“Yes,” Cashman mentioned Thursday evening in New York Metropolis when requested concerning the topic.
The overall supervisor, who was collaborating within the annual Covenant Home Sleep Out, which raises consciousness of younger individuals going through homelessness, spoke with the Yankees’ projected aggressive stability tax payroll at $281 million for 2026, in line with Cot’s Contracts. That features Grisham’s qualifying provide, Ryan Yarbrough’s yet-to-be-announced one-year, $2.5 million deal, and the Bombers’ choice to train Tim Hill’s $3 million membership choice for subsequent season.
“I think we’re in a good spot,” Cashman mentioned. “The job right now is to find out what’s available, and those all have different price points.”
The second-highest threshold for aggressive stability tax penalties is $284 million subsequent season, whereas the best threshold is $304 million. In the meantime, Hal Steinbrenner, anticipated to talk with reporters subsequent week, has referred to as $300 million payrolls “unsustainable” regardless of exceeding that determine in every of the final two seasons.
Nevertheless, with the Yankees nonetheless prioritizing a reunion with Cody Bellinger — Cashman wasn’t shy about that on Thursday — and standing to learn from the addition of a frontline starter, in addition to bullpen and bench assist, staying below $300 million gained’t be straightforward.
“I think it could go both ways,” Cashman mentioned. “So it just depends on how things shake out and what opportunities present themselves.”
Cashman added, “I’m good at spending money,” and mentioned that he has “not necessarily” been given a set finances from Steinbrenner.
With the Yankees purchasing for loads of items earlier than the vacations, Cashman mentioned that he spoke to agent Scott Boras about Bellinger and Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai on Wednesday. He additionally talked to Casey Shut, one other agent, about Kyle Tucker, Paul Goldschmidt and Michael King on Thursday. Cashman talked about that Shut reps Kyle Schwarber as properly.
Whereas there are some intriguing — and costly — names there, groups are nonetheless doing due diligence at this level within the offseason, and Cashman has chatted with different brokers, in addition to opposing groups, about potential acquisitions.
“We’re certainly engaging all these players in the marketplace and trying to find out what the cost of acquisition is and then see how it would fit for us,” Cashman mentioned, noting cheaper additions may come through commerce if the Yankees half with prospects or a few of their youthful main leaguers.
For now, the Yankees can shed some payroll on Friday, because the tender deadline is at 8 p.m. Mark Leiter Jr., projected to earn $3 million in arbitration, Ian Hamilton ($941,000), Jake Cousins ($841,000) and Scott Effross ($800,000) are all non-tender candidates.
Cashman mentioned he is aware of what selections the Yankees intend to make forward of the deadline, however he was additionally discussing potential offers with different golf equipment.
