The shortstop market in free agency feels a lot like cryptocurrency, it continues to increase, but at some point, it will have to reset and buyers will be waiting. The New York Yankees are sitting patiently for an opportunity to strike, as agents are elevating the price tag of their star shortstops and expecting teams to bite before an expected lockout on December 1.
However, general manager Brian Cashman has been around the block a few times and knows how these deals usually work, which is exactly what he accomplished with DJ LeMahieu last year. He ended up landing LeMahieu on a six-year, $90 million deal when most believe he would breach $120 million in total.
Super-agent Scott Boras is seeking money in the realm of $200 million for his top players at shortstop, which would put the Yankees in somewhat of a bind.
“Perhaps more than $200 million.â€
The Yankees have a ton of options on the table, including Corey Seager, Trevor story, Carlos Correa, Marcus Semien, and Javier Baez. None of them have been scooped up off the market, meaning the price tags can easily fall to match what teams are willing to pay.
However, reports have indicated that the Yankees are simply monitoring the market and not aggressively pursuing a specific player. Cashman works fast, though, and if he sees the right price tag for a player he desires, he will strike a deal in a moments notice. Considering he was just about willing to pay $25 million over one season for Justin Verlander, they clearly have plenty of money to spend and are ready to make a push for players they desperately want.
Nonetheless, they have the mega-deal of Aaron Judge waiting in the wings, so they have to be a bit financially flexible. They already have Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton on the roster, representing $300 million contracts, so it is entirely possible Cashman looks to the secondary market for a stopgap shortstop, which would save them a bit of change as they wait for Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza to reach the majors.