The offseason looks tenser than usual in the Bronx, as although the Yankees are coming off a solid 2025, the front office’s financial decisions could cost them two of the most coveted pieces on the market: Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker.
A recent warning from renowned broadcaster Michael Kay set off alarm bells among New York fans.
Michael Kay says Yankees’ payroll will become a big problem
The main adversities they will face in the Bronx will not be on the diamond, but in the office, doing the numbers, as according to Michael Kay, the organization would be determined to keep the payroll below $300 million by 2026, a stance that seriously complicates any attempt to retain Bellinger or sign Tucker.
On his show for ESPN New York, Kay was blunt about the situation facing the team.
The contracts that squeeze the Yankees’ salary space
Kay noted that much of the payroll is tied up in virtually immovable players: Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, Fried and even Carlos Rodon, although the latter would be one of the few candidates to be traded. However, moving him would not only be difficult, but would probably not give the value that the Yankees expect.
For Kay, the outlook is bleak: “They won’t be able to make any significant moves… Who exactly can they move to create that cap space to get a $25 million to $30 million contract? And if it’s Tucker, it would be $40 million“
Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker move away from the Bronx
Bellinger has already turned down his $25 million option, indicating that he is seeking a higher salary. Tucker, meanwhile, is one of the hottest names around and would be looking for a contract close to $40 million a year and if the front office keeps the financial brakes on, the math is clear: there is no room for two contracts of that caliber.
Keeping their payroll below $300 million may sound reasonable to the owners, but on a sporting level it means walking away from two players who fit perfectly into the team’s needs. If there is no change of direction, fans should prepare to see Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker take different paths to the Bronx.
Read the full article here
