Where The Bronx Bombers Go After Another “Failed” Season
The Year was 2009. Joe Buck’s “The Yankees are back on top, World Champions for the 27th time” final out call during the 09’ World Series still brings back memories for fans to this day. It’s been 12 years since the New York Yankees won a World Series Championship, halting their dream of #28 during that span. Since then, the “Chase for 28” has brought on a drought for the Evil Empire, though it is not easy to pinpoint why the once feared franchise is in a state of delirium.
Looking Back at 2009
2009 was the year of the Yankees, which saw the feared Yankees win their first World Series since the 2000 season. Similar to the current state of the Yankees in 2021, the Yankees finally overcame their faults in 09 and added #27 to their collection. But how did THAT TEAM get there???
The “Drought” from 2000-2008:
2001: 95-65- in Regular Season, Lost in World Series vs Arizona (4-3)
2002: 103-58 in Regular Season, Lost ALDS to Anaheim (3-1)
2003: 101-61-1 in Regular Season, Lost World Series vs Miami (4-2)
2004: 101-61 in Regular Season, Lost ALCS to Boston (4-3)
2005: 95-67 in Regular Season, Lost ALDS to Anaheim (3-2)
2006: 97-65 in Regular Season, Lost ALDS to Detroit (3-1)
2007: 94-68 in Regular Season, Lost ALDS to Cleveland (3-1)
2008: 89-73 in Regular Season, Missed Playoffs
2009: 103-59 in Regular Season, Won World Series vs Philadelphia (4-2)
How They Won in 2009:
After failing to win another World Series since 2000, the 08’ offseason was ESSENTIAL to the Yankees success in 2009 and onwards.
December 17th, 2008: The New York Yankees make their new signings official, inking LHP CC Sabathia & RHP AJ Burnett to huge deals.
December 23rd, 2008, over 1 week after signing BOTH Sabathia & Burnett, The Yankees inked slugging 1B Mark Teixeira.
The Yankees inked a total of $423,500,000 for 3 players during a year that saw the U.S. economy go up in shambles. Sabathia, Burnett & Teixeira all proved to be very crucial players for New York to break their drought, along with a veteran core of players that included Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada & Mariano Rivera.
Yankees WAR Totals in 2009
Derek Jeter - 6.6 WAR (1)
CC Sabathia - 6.2 WAR (2)
Mark Teixeira - 5.3 WAR (3)
Robinson Cano - 4.5 WAR (T4)
AJ Burnett - 4.5 WAR (T4)
Alex Rodriguez - 4.2 WAR (6)
What Have The Yankees Done Since 2009??
2010: 95-67 in Regular Season, Lost ALCS to Texas (4-2)
2011: 97-65 in Regular Season, Lost ALDS to Detroit (3-2)
2012: 97-65 in Regular Season, Lost ALCS to Detroit (4-0)
2013: 85-77 in Regular Season, Missed Playoffs
2014: 84-78 in Regular Season, Missed Playoffs
2015: 87-75 in Regular Season, Lost AL Wildcard to Houston
2016: 84-78 in Regular Season, Missed Playoffs
2017: 91-71 in Regular Season, Lost ALCS to Houston (4-3)*
2018: 100-62 in Regular Season, Lost ALDS to Boston (3-1)
2019: 103-59 in Regular Season, Lost ALCS to Houston (4-2)
2020: 33-27 in Regular Season, Lost ALDS to Tampa Bay (3-2)
2021: 92-70 in Regular Season, Lost AL Wildcard to Boston
Since their huge 08’ Winter & their 09’ Championship, the Yankees have continued to fall short in the postseason, despite missing the playoffs only 3 times in that 11 year span. There have been answers aplenty from the Yankees front office as to why they’re incapable of winning in October, but the re-occurring question with the current Yankees squad is Why??
Why have the Yankees failed to reach the promise land?? Why can the Rays win AND beat them with 25% of their payroll?? Why can Boston “rebuild” and suddenly advance to an ALCS?? And the list continues to go on…
Self-Deprived Finances
As mentioned before, the Yankees 08’ offseason not only seems like decades away because of the 13 years that have passed, but the it’s also because this current Yankees team have continually failed to spend BIG on free-agents.
If you were to tell a Mid-90’s/Early 2000’s Yankees fans that the 2021 Yankees have wanted to stay under the luxury tax threshold…they would LAUGH. Of course the late 90’s/2000’s NYY squad had “The Boss” at the helm who was never afraid to spend money if and when the time was right to help aid an October run, but why the frugality??
The Yankees 2021 Payroll accumulates to $203M, which is on par with their early late 2000’s payroll but they have never spent more than could have. 2008 aside, the Yankees have continued to stay near & around the $210M cap number but the only explanation that has been given a few times is that they don’t want to be taxed which then aids in losing international signing $$$, for going over the MLB salary cap.
Prior to Gerrit Cole signing with The Yankees on December 18th, 2019; The Yankees had not signed a “Premier” free-agent. Of all the free agents that have been signed by the Yankees since 2009, the list notably includes the likeness of Masahiro Tanaka, Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, Hiroki Kuroda & Giancarlo Stanton (via Trade). None of those moves necessarily ‘Moved the Needle” despite their continued success in the regular season.
Foolish Spending
The date was March 1st, 2019. The Philadelphia Phillies officially signed Superstar OF Bryce Harper to a MEGA 13 Year/$330M contract. Why do I bring up Bryce Harper & the Phillies??? Throughout his career, Harper acknowledged his love for the Yankees & the fandom that comes with that. So when the Star OF became a Free Agent following the 2018 season, many instantly linked Harper to the Bronx.
The 2018 Winter saw Bryce Harper go unsigned for an extended period of time, with Harper’s agent Scott Boras being the most crucial piece to Bryce potentially signing with New York. Boras linked his client to the Bronx that offseason, and when Yankees GM Brian Cashman was asked of the Boras rumors, Cashman simply responded with “All I can keep telling you is, you know where my current focuses are, but at the same time, we’re a fully operation Death Star.” Despite the alleged power of a Death Star, the Yankees were NEVER really interested in Harper, despite his interest of playing in the Bronx & despite his plea of potentially moving to 1B due to the Yankees having 6 “capable outfielders.”
The 2018 Winter not only had Bryce Harper on the market, but it also included Star SS Manny Machado. Machado like Harper has acknowledged his love for the Yankees & reportedly “Preferred” New York among other interested suitors that winter. Notably, then Yankees SS Didi Gregorius was injured & it made Machado a possibility…but again, the Yankees never showed true interest.
Who Did They Sign Instead??
February 25th, 2019: Yankees sign OF Aaron Hicks to a 7 Year - $70M Contract Extension.
8.3 Combined WAR from 2017 & 2018 season (225 games)
2.1 Combined WAR from 2019 & 2020 season (113 games)
-0.3 WAR in 2021 (32 games)
* Tommy John Surgery, Elbow, Back & Wrist Injuries.
February 15th, 2019: Yankees sign RHP Luis Severino to a 4 Year - $40M Contract Extension.
9.5 Combined WAR from 2017 & 2018 season (63 games)
0.9 Combined WAR from 2019 & 2021 season (7 games)
*Tommy John Surgery + Shoulder Injuries, Missed ALL of 2020 season.
November 3rd, 2019: Yankees signed RP Aroldis Chapman to a 3 Year - $48M Contract.
*Chapman hasn’t seen a major drop off in production since re-signing with the Yankees (though there are potential advanced stats that could provide otherwise), he simply hasn’t been the same reliever they got from Cincinnati/the one that aided the Cubs in a World Series. Chapman also hasn’t been hit with the unlucky injury bug like Hicks & Severino, but he’s certainly seen a decline in his effectiveness on the mound. At times throughout his tenure with the Yankees Chapman has been seen as a Top 5 reliever, but there also comes times throughout a season where he does not have it.
Inconsistent Management
After the 2017 Season that saw the Yankees fall short 1 game of a World Series birth, the front office chose to not re-sign Manager Joe Girardi which came with differing views of why and how the move happened.
Back in 2017, it was rumored that Girardi was not fond of analytics & that the Yankees were looking to land someone behind the bench who understood the “New Era” of baseball. Girardi’s departure came with added speculation ahead of the final move that Joe feeling “Burned Out” and wanting to spend more time with his family.
Eventually, after many outside candidates & familiar faces were interviewed for the Yankees Managerial Vacancy, the organization was set on former MLB player & ESPN analyst Aaron Boone. Once the move was made, it of course was met with criticism but the consensus was that the Yankees got the perfect fit to help lead the “Baby Bombers.”
Since then, Boone has been in deep waters with fans because of his lack of instincts during the games that have resulted in many questionable moves in his tenure in the Bronx. Contrary to fan belief, the Yankees front office has been pleased with Boone to this point, despite failing to make and or win a World Series since being hired. As of now, it’s looking like Aaron Boone will return to New York in 2022 & will once again be given another chance to ‘Right the Ship.”
GM Brian Cashman is another form of Yankees management that has been criticized during this drought. Though Cashman has been hailed as a high-end executive for his ability to find “Diamonds in the Rough.” Some of the moves that he’s decided to make and not make in this 12 year span has often called for his firing. The state of the Yankees front office is one that is analytically savvy and with that has once again brought into question how the Yankees go about making decisions.
Swinging for The Fences
Giancarlo Stanton epitomizes the current philosophy of the Yankees, which is Launch Angle + Homeruns + Strikeouts = Winning baseball??? The Yankees have a severe lack of basic fundamentals in baseball (baserunning, bunting, stealing, etc.) & have been one of the most notorious strikeout teams in MLB over the last 5 years. Between Stanton, Judge, Sanchez & Gallo (via Trade), the Yankees struck out a total of 649 times…and that’s only with 4 players on their roster.
Although MLB is trending towards homerun fixated swings & some of the top teams in the league certainly strikeout, their lineup is simply not built to win for the long haul. Stanton, Judge & Gallo are the definition of what it means to be & look like a Yankees player (HR hitter, Big/Tall, High K%).
Some of the most legendary Yankees squads did not have a copy/paste lineup, instead they featured big bats that could also hit for AVG & knew what it took to get on base via any means necessary. It’s cliché to look back at the old days but the 90’s Yankees featured many guys that could both get on base, hit for AVG & limiting strikeouts, all while being able to hit as many HRs as the next best team. If the Yankees feel inclined to keep this same roster into 2022 with little no change, the same result will happen as it has been over the last few years.
So How Can the Yankees Improve??
The 2021 Winter Off-Season will be one of the biggest in recent memory for the Yankees as the simplest of moves could either set them on a path towards continued success or could set them towards a potential implosion.
New Manager??
In the eyes of many fans, Aaron Boone needs to be replaced with an “Old-School” manager that will take into account the analytics of the game, while being able to make decisions based on your gut. * As of now *, the Yankees “Seem Inclinded” to keep Aaron Boone, however they have decided to let go of some members of Boone’s coaching staff. Though I am not in favor of Boone being replaced, if the Yankees go for Buck Showalter or Bruce Bochy this winter, it will indicate many of things:
1 - It will indicate that Hal Steinbrenner is tired of losing.
2 - A veteran styled managerial hire will indicate that GM Brian Cashman has had some of his power relinquished, as Cashman is said to have played a big part in the hiring of Aaron Boone.
3 - Bochy and or Showalter at the helm will indicate that their new Yankees squad will be a hardnose squad that is fundamentally sound on the field.
Don’t Be Afraid to Spend $$$
This winter has a PLETHORA of “Premier” free agents, most of which are Shortstops. Since Derek Jeter retired, the Yankees have rolled out Didi Gregorius & Gleyber Torres most notably out at the position. Didi is long gone in Philadelphia & Gleyber has proved to this point that he’s best suited at 2B…that is of course if they don’t trade him this Winter.
Given what we know now about Houston’s 2017 cheating scandal, Carlos Correa on the Yankees would be the most Yankees move to happen over the last 20 years. The aforementioned “Death Star” quote earlier would come to light and prove to be true if the Yankees indeed signed Correa, indicating that they are going back to that “Evil Empire” mentality.
Max Scherzer headlines this winter’s free agent pitching core and with him reportedly wanting to stay in L.A., that leaves the Yankees with some less “Elite” options tp help bolster a rotation that was surprisingly good in 2021. Kevin Gausman & Marcus Stroman are the 2 most notable names in that “Tier B” off free agent pitchers that should be considered after some remarkable 2020 campaigns that features Gausman potentially receiving some NL Cy Young votes.
Make a Big Trade
After a strong 2021 campaign, Giancarlo Stanton should most definitely be considered as a trade piece. Compared to years prior where trading him seemed utterly impossible due to his injury history, his 2020 postseason & 2021 season could propel teams to jump at the idea of Stanton on their squad. Pair that with the DH coming to the National League, there will be plenty of suitors for Stanton if the Yankees are interested in trading the star slugger…even if it means throwing in a prospect or eating a % of his contract to facilitate a deal.
Gleyber Torres & Luke Voit are two trade chips that could be floated around this winter to help strengthen the Yankees roster/offense. The days of Torres being the SS of the future are all but gone due to his regression offensively and lackluster defense. Although Torres’ struggles offensively could potentially be linked to their hitting coaches philosophy (whatever that is), it’s likely that he will be shopped this offseason. Voit is another player who has seen a regression offensively, but that is not due to his play. The amount of injuries Voit seen since coming to the Bronx has hindered his ability to reach his potential as he is an average to above average defender at 1B.
In Conclusion
Yankees fans should be grateful for the success that their team has been able to accumulate over the years. As mentioned before, they’ve only missed the postseason 3 times in a 12 year span since winning their last World Series. Not many teams can say they’ve had such success year in and year out, while being in the postseason/being in the hunt every year. Of course New York sports comes with higher standards compared to others & the philosophy of “Championship or Bust” is always lingering, but the times have simply changed. Throwing money at the problem will not help them get over the hump, though adding top stars to their roster that could help them on BOTH sides of the field should be of the utmost priority. The Yankees haven’t flexed their financial capability like they did in 2008 when they signed 3 major stars in Sabathia, Burnett & Teixeira. The Yankees need to shy away from the right handed, strikeout heavy lineup and look to improve on a team that is already dominant but is desperately asking/in need of a shakeup. If the front office can make some of these suggestions come to life while making a well balanced product to put on the field that features a sense of personality that they haven’t had in years, the 2022 season could be one to be VERY hopeful for.
References:
BleacherReport
BaseballReference
MLB.com
Spotrac
Statmuse
NYDailyNews
CBSSports
The NY Times