The Yankees have, rather notably, failed to sign a single free agent to a major league contract this winter. But that doesn’t mean the team hasn’t tried. In fact, the team had a two-year deal for between $11.5MM and $12MM in place with righty Tommy Hunter, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. But an unidentified issue cropped up in his physical, leading the club to blow up the deal (the timing of which is unclear). Hunter ultimately received just $2MM in guaranteed money from the Indians, of course, though that perhaps also reflected the fact that he needed core muscle surgery in early January and will miss the start of the season.
Here’s more from New York and the rest of the AL East:
- The Yankees’ opportunistic acquisition of Aroldis Chapman, in the midst of a still-ongoing investigation into domestic violence allegations, raises some hard and uncomfortable questions for the organization, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports writes. Meanwhile, New York is still waiting to learn what kind of punishment may be doled out, Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News reports. Indeed, the club is not even sure when it will be informed of a decision. Chapman himself says that he has been interviewed by the league and would appeal any suspension, Passan tweets.
- Rays president of baseball operations Mathew Silverman indicated that he’s not ruling out trade activity this spring, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Silverman explains that the “transaction window is open longer” now than in the past, with other organizations seeming to show an increased willingness to strike deals during camp.
- While the Red Sox are optimistic that Hanley Ramirez can be a productive contributor at first base, writes ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, the club has ways to fill in if the experiment fails. Of course, as Olney notes, there’s plenty of time for assessment before any tough choices are made.
Might want to have Travis Shaw close by
Man o man do I wish the Yankees would have paid Tommy Hunter 12 million.
Coming from an Orioles fan so do I
Yankees can’t win no matter what… If they sign a free agent they are “buying championships” and if they don’t sign one everyone wants to bring it up everyday…
You mean if they overpay on a top tier free agent to a lengthy albatross contract so no one else can put up a competitive bid? Everyone is used to them doing that every year until Hal took over so when they sign absolutely no one its something to talk about. Lots of Yankee fans themselves were surprised how this offseason went..
There’s something I’m not understanding. How in the world was Tommy Hunter in line to get paid like a top-tier set up man? I like the guy and everything I’ve read says he’s a great teammate but the reported contract of 2 yrs and $11-12m would have slotted him in just behind Tony Sipp’s AAV and Tyler Clippard’s AAV. Isn’t that more than a slight overpay for Hunter?
Lot of hate for Tommy Hunter. Before this past year where he was pretty good (3.63 ERA) with the Orioles and really bad in 15 innings with the Cubs, he averaged like 70 innings and a 2.90 ERA over the previous two seasons in the AL East. The Yankees had ample opportunity to see how effective he was.
Just because there isn’t a stream of stories about a guy looking for whatever amount of money or weighing offers for whatever amount or his name isn’t on a list where he’s projected to get whatever amount, doesn’t mean he isn’t good and doesn’t deserve (insofar as baseball players deserve however much money) a strong contract.
Not sure what’s up with all his medical stuff and yeah, I figured him as closer to 3/12 than 2/12, but it would’ve been a fine amount for him if he’d been healthy. Mark Lowe got 2/11, John Axford got 2/10, etc.
hanley ramirez will make errors on easy plays, look awkward with his footwork, stand in the same spot on every play, feel uncomfortable, get a complex about his fielding and start missing games with mystery injuries and illnesses. hoo boy.
Yankees logic
Having Facial Hair- the worst thing in the world.
Abusing your spouse- A-Ok if you can throw 100 mph
Chapman isn’t married
More Yankees logic….smh
Lol Yankees logic but yet who has the most rings?