TAMPA, Fla. (WFAN) -- For just about any Major League Baseball owner, the pipe-dream is to field a team capable of winning a World Series while shaving tens of millions of dollars off the books.
That dream is Hal Steinbrenner's reality right now.
The Yankees have a stacked roster that is widely considered a serious contender to reach the Fall Classic, and for the first time in 16 years, they're in position to avoid paying the luxury tax.
Talking to reporters after watching a simulated spring training game Wednesday, Steinbrenner raved about the organization's young talent.
MORE: Palladino: Luis Severino Can Plant His Flag As Yankees' Permanent Ace This Year
"Everybody is excited," Steinbrenner said. "All the young guys we hoped would be playing well are, it seems to me. It's early, and there's obviously a lot of questions to be answered."
Among those questions is who will start at second and third bases. The third-base battle has been especially intriguing early on as Miguel Andujar tries to win the job after the Yankees acquired Brandon Drury in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks last month. Andujar is tied for the team lead with four homers this spring.
Having so many young, key players is helping the Yanks keep their payroll down. Current estimates have them at $177 million -- $20 million under the luxury-tax threshold and $45 million less than what they spent last season.
"It's absolutely my goal," Steinbrenner said of avoiding the luxury tax. "We've got a good deal of breathing room right now, and we're not afraid to spend come July or even sooner if we feel that we're not good enough in a certain area."
MORE: Murti: Josh Bard Brings Combination Of Smarts, Experience Boone Wanted In Yankees Bench Coach
One area in which they could spend is starting pitching. General manager Brian Cashman spent the offseason trying to acquire another arm for the rotation but has so far been unsuccessful. Perhaps a move will be made before the July 31 trade deadline.
"I think you can never have enough starting pitching," Steinbrenner said. "I hate to give the same answer (I have before), but that's just a fact. But we have a rotation, so it's just a question of it being a long season and can everyone stay healthy and, if somebody does get injured, where to do we go from there?"
While pitching might be somewhat of a concern, power hitting certainly is not. The Yankees led the majors in home runs in 2017 and then went out and added Giancarlo Stanton, who belted an MLB-best 59 homers last season en route to winning National League MVP with the Miami Marlins.
"He's a heck of a player -- we all know that -- and it's going to be fun to watch him and all these young guys," Steinbrenner said. "It's just going to be an exciting year. Just have to stay healthy."
