Just as he said this past winter when asked about Steve Cohen’s offseason spending spree, Hal Steinbrenner reiterated to reporters on Wednesday that excessive spending doesn’t buy championships.
So, with that in mind, don’t expect the Yankees to splurge on the free agent market at the level of Cohen any time soon.
“A decade-plus ago, I always used to say that you shouldn’t have to have a $200 million payroll to win a championship, right? Because nobody had it,” the Yankees owner said, via the New York Post. “Times have changed, I will acknowledge that.
“So I will say that you shouldn’t have to have a $300 million payroll to win a world championship, because nobody has, including Houston.”
The Astros won the title last season behind several homegrown stars, including rookie Jeremy Pena, who won the World Series MVP and tortured the Yanks in an ALCS sweep. The Bombers responded by bringing back Aaron Judge on a $360 million deal, and signing free agent Carlos Rodon to a $162 million contract.
But Rodon, along with free agent signing Tommy Kahnle and others, will start the season on the IL, bringing Steinbrenner back to a familiar refrain: the Yankees, as constructed, are capable of ending their title drought, as long as injuries don’t get in the way.
“Do I think we’re good enough to win a championship now? Yes,” Steinbrenner said. “But we got to stay healthy.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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