So the Yankees get it.
They don't have to steal Manny Machado or buy Bryce Harper. They don't have to make it rain in order to make a big splash. They improved on a 100-win team by realizing they already have a 100-win team. They chose to retool rather than reboot.
Let the Padres spend $300 million on Machado. Let the Phillies or White Sox or whoever deal with Scott Boras and his inflated sense of self and mushrooming price of his clients.
The Yankees did such a sweet, silent job of tweaking a fine club that everyone still noticed. They resisted their ancient urge for orgiastic spending by adding just enough pieces to make them the team of today without hocking their future. Instead of mining for big bats, they invested in strong arms. They shored up their rotation and beefed up their bullpen. Instead of lusting after Machado or Harper they kept J.A. Happ, traded for James Paxton, and signed Zack (formerly known as Zach) Britton.
According to Las Vegas, the Bombers are the favorites to win the 2019 World Series, at 6-to-1. (Boston is second, at 7-to-1.) The Athletic recently polled 30 AL insiders - including managers, coaches, scouts, and executives - and 27 of them listed the Yankees among their most improved teams this winter. The Twins and Rays were a distant second, with 10 mentions. A recent piece from CBSSports.com ranked the Yanks fourth among MLB's best offseasons.
No Jason Giambi or Jose Contreras or Randy Johnson. No shadows of the Evil Empire sliding across the Bronx. They did park in the indulgence lot for a moment to grab Giancarlo Stanton, but that deal was too delicious to refuse. These Yankees are a fine broth of young bucks seasoned with seasoned vets. Stanton will make $26 million this year while their best player, Aaron Judge, makes 600 grand.
MORE: Murti: Feel Free To Ramp Up Expectations For Judge, Stanton
The Yanks can make a robust roster without blasting through the luxury tax firewall. The team payroll hovers around $198 million, their nostrils just below the $200 million threshold. They became the chalk without being the talk of baseball.
The Houston Astros opened with the highest over/under win total, at 97.5 (according to Caesars Palace) even though they don't have Dallas Keuchel and are not the favorites to win the Fall Classic (most recently 7-to-1). Now the Yankees and Astros are tied at 96.5, according to Westgate LV SuperBook. By any objective measure, the Yankees sped past the gifted Astros during the Hot Stove season.
This team and time are vital in Yankees history. It's been ten years since their last real banner was raised. Over the last century, the 1980s were the only full calendar decade during which the Bombers did not bag a World Series championship. That makes 2019 the last chance for these Yanks, who have not won a World Series ring since A-Rod's merry band of Bombers in 2009.
As always, the Yankees aren't batting the Boston Red Sox or Houston Astros as much as the burden of expectations. This is the first time in some time they can, and should, bring the ring back to the Bronx.
Follow Jason on Twitter: @JasonKeidel
