Penny for your thoughts, Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman. The Yankees need a shortstop and they’re not getting the one who would have been a perfect fit in their lineup, the one that so many prognosticators predicted would be headed to the Bronx.
Corey Seager is headed to the Texas Rangers, whose spending spree on Monday would have made George Steinbrenner proud … or maybe enticed the Boss to respond immediately with a big-bucks signing.
We’re waiting for something ... anything beyond the re-signing of lefty reliever Joely Rodriguez for one year at $2 million.
Seager agreed to a 10-year, $325-million deal after the Rangers signed shortstop/second baseman Marcus Semien to a seven-year, $175-million pact and added a top-of-the-rotation starter by signing Jon Gray to a four-year, $56-million deal. The day before, the Rangers improved their outfield on Sunday with a potential low-risk, high-reward signing of Kole Calhoun, who settled for a one-year, $4-million pact three seasons removed from his 33-homer campaign in 2019.
Just like that, the Rangers are looking like playoff contenders after losing 102 games in 2021, their fifth losing season in a row.
Another shortstop fell off the board on Tuesday morning with the Detroit Tigers landing Javier Baez on a deal that reportedly is worth $140 million for six seasons.
Three other clubs who missed the playoffs last season also opted to spend big on free agents before Thursday’s lockout commences — the Mets, Mariners and Blue Jays.
The Mets on Monday trumped losing Noah Syndergaard to the Angels and missing out on signing Steven Matz by luring three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer their way on a three-year, $130 million deal that has a record $43.33 million annual salary. Last Friday, the Mets committed $126.5 million with three signings: Starling Marte, the best center fielder on the market, as well as outfielder Mark Canha and infielder Eduardo Escobar.
The Mariners, whose 20-year playoff drought included an AL Wild Card near-miss in 2021, made a big move aimed at putting them over the top on Monday. Reigning American League Cy Young winner Robbie Ray is headed to Seattle on a five-year, $115 contract.
The Blue Jays had a bad day losing Ray and Semien from their 2020 contending ballclub, but they countered the rotation departure by signing Kevin Gausman to a $110-million deal for five seasons.
As for the Yankees, there still are two elite free agent shortstops out there for the taking, Carlos Correa and Trevor Story, although there’s now speculation that their only top-dollar signing of the offseason may be locking up right fielder Aaron Judge, who can walk after the 2022 season.
Besides shortstop, Cashman is on record saying the Yankees are interested in improving at catcher, center field and starting pitching. They’ll probably have to trade for a catcher and center fielder to upgrade at those spots, but there still are a few decent rotation options available even with the top free agents off the board.
The Yankees also are believed to be looking to upgrade from Luke Voit at first base and reportedly would love to work a trade with the Athletics for Matt Olson, although the price is very high for a two-time Gold Glove winner who hit 39 homers in 2021 and has two seasons of team control.
Here’s the latest on the free agent signings and who’s still available:
SIGNED FREE-AGENT POSITION PLAYERS
2B/SS Javier Baez signed 6-year, $140M contract with Tigers on Nov. 30.
C Yan Gomes signed 2-year, $13M contract with the Cubs on Nov. 30.
SS Corey Seager signed 10-year, $325M contract with Rangers on Nov. 29
2B Marcus Semien signed 7-year, $175M contract with Rangers on Nov. 29
OF Avisail Garcia signed 4-year, $53M contract with Marlins on Nov. 28.
OF Kole Calhoun signed 1-year, $5.2M contract with Rangers on Nov. 28.
CF Starling Marte signed 4-year, $78M contract with Mets on Nov. 26.
OF Mark Canha signed 2-year, $26.5M contract with Mets on Nov. 26.
INF Eduardo Escobar signed 2-year, $20M contract with Mets on Nov. 26.
1B/OF Yoshi Tsutsugo signed 1-year, $4M contract with Pirates on Nov. 24.
C Pedro Severino signed 1-year, $1.9M contract with Brewers on Nov. 21.
C Manny Pina signed 2-year, $8M contract with Braves on Nov. 17.
SIGNED FREE-AGENT STARTING PITCHERS
RHP Max Scherzer signed 3-year, $130M contract with Mets on Nov. 29.
LHP Robbie Ray signed 5-year, $115M contract with Mariners on Nov. 29.
RHP Jon Gray signed 4-year, $56M contract with Rangers on Monday on Nov. 29.
RHP Corey Kluber signed 1-year, $8M contract with Rays on Nov. 28.
RHP Kevin Gausman signed 5-year, $110M contract with Blue Jays on. Nov. 28.
RHP Michael Wacha signed 1-year, $7M contract with Red Sox.
LHP Steven Matz signed 4-year contract with Cardinals on Nov. 24.
RHP Anthony DeSciafani signed 3-year, $36M contract with Giants on Nov. 23.
LHP Jose Quintana signed 1-year, $2M with Pirates on Nov. 21.
RHP Justin Verlander signed 1-year, $25M contract with Astros on Nov. 17.
RHP Noah Syndergaard signed 1-year, $21M contract with Angels on Nov. 16.
LHP Eduardo Rodriguez signed 5-year, $77M contract with Tigers on Nov. 16.
LHP Andrew Heaney signed 1-year, $8.5M contract with Dodgers on Nov. 10.
SIGNED FREE-AGENT RELIEVERS
RHP Daniel Hudson signed 1-year, $7M contract with Dodgers on Nov. 29.
RHP Kirby Yates signed 2-year, $8.25M contract with Braves on Nov. 29.
LHP Brooks Raley signed 2-year, $10M contract with Rays on Nov. 29.
RHP Hector Neris signed 2-year, $17M contract with Astros on Nov. 27.
RHP Yimi Garcia signed 2-year, $11M contract with Blue Jays on Nov. 27.
RHP Kendall Graveman signed 3-year, $24M contract with White Sox on Nov. 23.
RHP Aaron Loup signed 2-year, $17M contract with Angels on Nov. 22.
LHP Joely Rodriguez signed 1-year, $2M contract with Yankees on Nov. 10.
TOP UNSIGNED FREE AGENTS
POSITION PLAYERS: Freddie Freeman, 1B; Anthony Rizzo, 1B; Carlos Correa, SS: Trevor Story, SS: Kris Bryant, LF: Nick Castellanos, OF; Michael Conforto, OF; Kyle Schwarber, OF/DH; OF Jorge Solar; Chris Taylor, UTY; Nelson Cruz, DH.
STARTING PITCHERS: Clayton Kershaw, LHP; Carlos Rodon, LHP; Marcus Stroman, RHP; Zack Greinke, RHP; Alex Cobb, RHP; Michael Pineda, RHP.
RELIEVERS: Andrew Chafin, LHP; Raisel Iglesias, RHP; RHP Kenley Jansen, RHP; Joe Kelly, RHP; Ryan Tepera, RHP.
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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.
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