George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees once made a habit of winning the off-season. Not coincidentally, they won a lot of titles, too.
It hasn’t happened since 2009, when splashy signings CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira helped New York “buy” its 27th World Series championship.
“The Boss” died a year later. Since then, the sport the Yankees once dominated with big expenditures has instead become all about efficiency. While the Bronx Bombers will still run one of baseball’s highest payrolls in 2022, it has been odd to watch New York stand by while this year’s top free agents have gone to the Minnesota Twins (Carlos Correa), Texas Rangers (Corey Seager and Marcus Semien) and of course, the crosstown Mets (Max Scherzer).
In fact, second-year Mets owner Steve Cohen seems intent on filling the void Steinbrenner left behind as the Big Apple’s biggest spender, willing to pursue a championship at any price.
But what is winning the off-season even worth? To get an idea, here’s a look at clubs who have “won” the off-season since it last worked for the Yankees:
2009-10
Offseason Winners: Seattle Mariners
World Series Winners: San Francisco Giants
Relieved to have Adrian Beltre’s US$64-million, five-year deal off the books – yes, really – Seattle sent a trio of prospects to Philadelphia for 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee, signed Chone Figgins for US$36-million and acquired Milton Bradley from the Cubs. They also locked up ace Felix Hernandez on a US$78-million, five-year deal. Those Mariners won 61 games – a clean swing and a miss.
2010-11
Offseason Winners: Boston Red Sox
World Series Winners: St. Louis Cardinals
Boston acquired All-Star slugger Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego for three minor leaguers, including Anthony Rizzo, then signed speedy outfielder Carl Crawford for US$142-million. They won 90 games, but the fit wasn’t right, and the Red Sox dumped both players to the Dodgers in August, 2012.
2011-12
Offseason Winners: Los Angeles Angels
World Series Winners: San Francisco Giants
Several teams made big splashes: Prince Fielder signed with Detroit for US$214-million, the Marlins dropped US$191-million on free agents Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell, and of course, the Angels lured Albert Pujols away from St. Louis for US$240-million over 10 years – and added C.J. Wilson for US$77.5-million. The Angels won 89 games and finished third in the AL West. The Giants, whose top winter add was Melky Cabrera, won the World Series for the second time in four years.
2012-13
Offseason Winners: Toronto Blue Jays
World Series Winners: Boston Red Sox
Toronto dug deep into its farm system, unloading Noah Syndergaard and several other future big leaguers for Mets ace R.A. Dickey and Marlins veterans Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson and Jose Reyes. They also essentially traded manager John Farrell to the Red Sox, who went on to claim the World Series. The Jays, meanwhile, won 74 games.
2013-14
Offseason Winners: New York Yankees
World Series Winners: San Francisco Giants
Another stab at a signature Steinbrenner off-season. With Derek Jeter entering his final season before retirement, the Yankees signed Masahiro Tanaka from Japan for US$155-million, pried Jacoby Ellsbury away from the rival Red Sox for US$153-million, convinced Georgia-born Brian McCann to leave Atlanta for US$85-million, and also brought in Carlos Beltran. Robinson Cano left for Seattle, but hopes were still high in the Bronx. New York won 84 games and missed the playoffs.
2014-15
Offseason Winners: Chicago Cubs
World Series Winners: Kansas City Royals
Washington signed Max Scherzer for US$210-million and also acquired minor leaguers Trea Turner and Joe Ross, but the budding Cubbies stole the off-season. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein poached long-time Rays manager Joe Maddon, signed Jon Lester for US$155-million and traded for Houston centrefielder Dexter Fowler. Chicago won 97 games, but the moves didn’t pay off in a title until a year later.
2015-16
Offseason Winners: Chicago Cubs
World Series Winners: Chicago Cubs
The Cubs signed Jason Heyward to the winter’s second-biggest deal at US$184-million – trailing only David Price’s US$217-million contract with Boston – and added Ben Zobrist (US$56-million) and John Lackey (US$32-million). They also traded out talented-but-frustrating shortstop Starlin Castro. It worked, although the homegrown stars were still the biggest contributors. Chicago ended its 108-year title drought on the backs of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez.
2016-17
Offseason Winners: Boston Red Sox
World Series Winners: Houston Astros
The Red Sox get a narrow nod here after acquiring ace Chris Sale from the White Sox and reliever Tyler Thornburg from Milwaukee, just ahead of the Mets re-signing Yoenis Cespedes, the Cardinals adding free agents Dexter Fowler and Brett Cecil, and the Dodgers retaining free agents Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner and Rich Hill. Houston also made a decent splash, acquiring McCann from the Yankees and signing Josh Reddick (US$52-million) and Beltran (US$16-million).
2017-18
Offseason Winners: New York Yankees
World Series Winners: Boston Red Sox
The Yankees replaced manager Joe Girardi with Aaron Boone, then acquired NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton from the fire-selling Marlins. Stanton had 38 homers and 100 RBIs in his first year, yet Boston won the AL East. The Red Sox were pushed over the top by free agent acquisition J.D. Martinez (US$110-million), along with previous headline acquisitions Price and Sale.
2018-19
Offseason Winners: Philadelphia Phillies
World Series Winners: Washington Nationals
San Diego stunned the sport by signing Manny Machado to a US$300-million, 10-year deal, but the Phillies still won the winter by adding Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Andrew McCutchen. Harper signed a record US$330-million, 13-year contract, Realmuto came in a trade from Miami and McCutchen was added for US$50-million. Philadelphia won 81 games, then watched its NL East rival – and Harper’s former team – win it all in October.
2019-20
Offseason Winners: Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series Winners: Los Angeles Dodgers
The Yankees seemed to have made the biggest splash by signing Gerrit Cole to a US$324-million deal in December, but then the Dodgers poached 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts from the Red Sox. It worked perfectly for LA, which hoisted the World Series trophy inside baseball’s COVID-19 bubble that fall.
2020-21
Offseason Winners: San Diego Padres
World Series Winners: Atlanta Braves
With a lineup headlined by Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres bolstered their pitching staff by trading for Yu Darvish, Mike Clevinger and Joe Musgrove. They also locked in Tatis with a US$340-million, 14-year deal, the longest in baseball history. The Mets and Cohen, in his first year as owner, also made a splash by acquiring Francisco Lindor, Carlos Carrasco and James McCann, but the Braves won the title thanks to a series of trade deadline additions by general manager Alex Anthopoulos.