For a team that has committed a whopping $310 million to five players since the end of the season, the Yankees are pulling into the Winter Meetings Sunday with plenty of holes to fill.
Derek Jeter ($12 million), Brian McCann ($85 million), Hiroki Kuroda ($16 million) and Jacoby Ellsbury ($153 million) have been announced. Carlos Beltran ($45 million) hasn’t been, but will.
When they are, the Yankees’ payroll for the 2014 season will be $172 million — a mere $17 million away from the $189 million luxury-tax threshold the club wants to get under.
And that $172 million doesn’t include what players such as Brett Gardner and David Robertson will make. Or roughly the $10 million a team is charged for insurance.
Here are five areas General Manager Brian Cashman will look at this week during baseball’s meat market in Orlando:
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1. Who are the fifth starter candidates?
David Phelps Paul J. Bereswill With Kuroda returning, the rotation houses CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova and Kuroda. If needed in the fifth spot, long relievers David Phelps and Adam Warren are available.
Masahiro Tanaka has been eyed by the Yankees for a while, but nobody knows when or if the Japanese right-hander will be posted once the new process is put in place.
The list of free agents is underwhelming, with Matt Garza, Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez on top of the heap.
Alfredo Aceves, Roy Halladay and Johan Santana might be worth a look.
Gardner could be used in a trade for a starter.
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2. How do the Yankees replace Robinson Cano at second base?
Omar Infante Getty With Cano in Seattle, Omar Infante is the best free-agent option and likely will command a three-year deal for $25 million. Trade options include the Angels’ Howie Kendrick ($18.85 million/two years) and the Reds’ Brandon Phillips ($50 million/four years).
The Yankees’ best trade chip is Gardner, whom the Reds have had an interest in for a few years.
The Yankees like Phillips the player, but some voices are wary of his makeup and, at $11 million for 2014, he might be too expensive.
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3. What happens at third base?
Kelly Johnson AP Alex Rodriguez’s future clouds the picture. Whatever suspension he gets will be appealed in federal court, and that could get tied up for a while.
The Yankees certainly could use the money they wouldn’t have to pay if Rodriguez’s suspension is upheld, but when that happens isn’t known.
Kelly Johnson has been brought in on a one-year deal, and he can play second and third. The Yankees had an interest in Eric Chavez. Mark Reynolds could return and he could back up Mark Teixeira at first. Juan Uribe and Michael Young also are available free agents. Young has first base experience.
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4. How does the crowded outfield shake out?
Alfonso Soriano Getty Here is the lone area the Yankees aren’t looking to add.
With Alfonso Soriano, Ichiro Suzuki, Beltran, Ellsbury and Gardner, there are five names for three spots. Soriano, who prefers playing the field to being the DH, is headed there if a deal isn’t made. And having a full-time DH cuts into at-bats there for McCann and Jeter.
Unless dealt, Gardner will play left and give the Yankees a strong outfield of Gardner, Ellsbury and Beltran.
It figures the Yankees will try to trade Suzuki, who still believes he is an everyday player. San Francisco could be a fit.
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5. Is Robertson the heir to Mo?
David Robertson Charles Wenzelberg David Robertson is Mariano Rivera’s replacement in the closer’s role today, but what about Opening Day?
Yankees brass hasn’t ordained Robertson officially as Rivera’s successor, but they have not made bullpen arms a priority so far.
Grant Balfour, Joaquin Benoit and Fernando Rodney are free agents, but all view themselves as closers. Signing one of them certainly would put Robertson back in the eighth-inning role he has excelled in.
Right-handers Shawn Kelley and Preston Claiborne return with Warren and Adams. But a lefty is needed and the free-agent pool is shallow.