The New York Yankees have come under fire for their lack of aggressive spending this offseason, and MLB insider Jeff Passan didn’t hold back when discussing their financial strategy. Appearing on The Michael Kay Show, Passan took aim at the Yankees for not doing enough to bolster their roster.
He pointed out that if the luxury tax penalties are such a significant issue, then why are teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets willing to exceed those limits year after year? According to Passan, if the Yankees are letting the tax threshold hold them back, it speaks more to their current position in the league than the tax itself.
Passan’s comments hit hard, especially considering the Yankees’ historic spending power. “These are the New York freaking Yankees,” he declared, emphasizing that the team has always been a giant in baseball, both on and off the field.
Yet, this offseason, they have remained relatively quiet while other teams in New York and across the league have splashed big money. “When have the Yankees ever played third fiddle in baseball?” Passan asked, noting that the team’s spending has recently taken a backseat to rivals who are willing to go all-in to win championships.
While the Yankees did make some notable moves, including signing Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million deal and bringing in Cody Bellinger at $25 million per year, their spending falls short compared to the Dodgers and Mets, who continue to exceed payroll expectations.
They also signed Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12.5 million contract, but despite these additions, the Yankees have been largely passive in the free-agent market. As a result, they have watched their rivals make bold moves while they’ve largely stayed on the sidelines.
Heading into the 2025 season, the Yankees are projected to have the fourth-highest payroll in baseball at around $273 million, but that’s still behind teams like the Mets and Dodgers, who have shown a greater willingness to spend without hesitation.
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner recently made headlines when he commented on the challenges of matching the spending power of teams like the Mets. “It’s difficult for most of us owners to be able to do the kind of things that they’re doing,” Steinbrenner said, despite owning a franchise valued at $7 billion.
Passan is clearly frustrated with the Yankees’ reluctance to go all-in, especially given their financial resources. He believes the Yankees should be doing much more, and with their deep pockets, there’s little excuse for the team not to be at the forefront of every major free-agent race. As the 2025 season approaches, the pressure will continue to mount on the Yankees to prove they are willing to spend what it takes to remain one of baseball’s elite teams.
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