Robinson Cano and Mariano Rivera are the looming Yankees free agents dominating attention. It is because of where they are heading: Cano toward $200 million — or more — and Rivera into retirement.
That has overshadowed the fact the Yankees have the deepest group of interesting free agents of any team. Fittingly, the only rivals are The Rival. Boston has Stephen Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Napoli and Jarrod Saltalamacchia poised for big interest and large raises off of this year.
The Yankees' fifth- through 11th highest-paid players — Cano, Curtis Granderson, Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, Kevin Youkilis, Rivera and Phil Hughes — are all free agents, as are Mark Reynolds, Boone Logan, Travis Hafner, Joba Chamberlain and Lyle Overbay. That is roughly $94 million in salary coming off the books as the Yankees are determined to get under the $189 million luxury-tax threshold next year.
Bill Kostroun/New York Post
FUTURE FOCUS: Curtis Granderson, making a sliding catch yesterday, has seemingly lost some value on the free-agent market, which could lead to a return next season, while Andy Pettitte, seemingly headed for retirement a month ago, has been dominant of late, fueling speculation he could pitch again.
Of course, many of those players will have to be re-signed or replaced, and what makes it even more intriguing is how many could still impact their standing with the Yankees and the industry in the last month this season. Cano goes to the top of the market, Rivera goes home, here is what the rest look like:
GRANDERSON: He has been out for two long stints, but due to freak injuries to a finger and wrist from being hit by pitches. Not chronic problems. Still, he will turn 33 before Opening Day next year, his season is abbreviated, he has lost further value by being moved from center field, and other teams will wonder if his power will translate nearly as well away from the short porch at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees will make him the $13.8 million tender and will want him back, especially if Cano leaves and they are trying to retain lefty heft. Could he accept the tender and try to go back into the market off of a healthy/strong 2014? A powerhouse September would probably push up his price and move him into free agency.
KURODA: The sense is he will pitch in just three places — in The Bronx, in L.A. with the Dodgers or back in Japan. He could probably get a multi-year deal from L.A. Would the Yankees do that for someone who turns 39 before next season and looks as if the workload is getting to him now. Again, how does he do in September?
PETTITTE: Between injury and ineffectiveness, Pettitte appeared ready to join Rivera in retirement. But he has a 1.05 ERA in his last four starts — all against AL East clubs. If that continues the rest of this month, the Yankees will probably want him back. But at what price? He is making $12 million. Would he accept a pay cut? Would he go someplace else (Rangers? Astros?)?
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