Even after all of the Yankees’ offseason activity — and money spent — general manager Brian Cashman admitted there were still plenty of unknowns surrounding the team, especially in two particular areas.
“I think people want to see how the bullpen’s going to shake out,” Cashman said. “People are going to want to see how the infield’s going to shake out.”
Those questions include the durability of stars Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira, both returning from injuries, as well as newcomers Brian Roberts and Kelly Johnson, who aren’t exactly surefire bets to be able to play every day.
“What’s Brian Roberts going to be?” Cashman said of the oft-injured second baseman who is penciled in as Robinson Cano’s replacement. “What’s Derek Jeter going to be as he comes back from his injury? What’s Mark Teixeira going to be at first base as he comes back from his wrist [injury]? Can Kelly Johnson secure and handle on a consistent basis third base? … Speaking to the obvious questions that people would have every right to ask.”
The reaction around the league to the latest part of the Yankees’ spending spree was a collective shrug.
“Imagine my surprise when I heard that [Masahiro] Tanaka signed with the Yankees,” retired Brave Chipper Jones wrote on Twitter. “Really??? OMG, I don’t believe it! [Let me] guess … 10 yrs and $500 mil??”
Executives around the league had similar responses, albeit without the sarcasm.
“They made a big deal about the $189 million, but it was hard to believe when it’s coming from them,” one AL executive said, referring to the Yankees’ stated desire to avoid the luxury-tax threshold.
While they dropped significant salaries with the retirements of Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte, the free-agent departures of Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson, as well as the money saved because of the season-long suspension of Alex Rodriguez, that money is now more than spent.
Tanaka joins a list that includes Jacoby Ellsbury (seven years, $153 million), Brian McCann (five years, $85 million), Carlos Beltran (three years, $45 million), Hiroki Kuroda (one year, $16 million), Jeter (one year, $12 million), Matt Thornton (two years, $7 million), Brendan Ryan (two years, $5 million), Johnson (one year, $3 million) and Roberts (one year, $2 million).
The Dodgers and Cubs were the other finalists, but the Astros, White Sox and Diamondbacks were all seriously interested and knew the cost of acquiring Tanaka would be at least $120 million.
“You miss on 100 percent of the shots you don’t take,” White Sox GM Rick Hahn said of his team’s pursuit of the right-hander.
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said “We went as far as we could go.”
The Astros even brought Roger Clemens to their meeting with Tanaka and agent Casey Close in Los Angeles.