Major League Baseball

Yankees Owner Hal Steinbrenner Remains Upbeat But Cautious

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:02 a.m. ET

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Fansided, Steve Contursi/FanSided via Yanks Go Yard

Yankees principal owner, Hal Steinbrenner, told the Associated Press that the “future is now.” Good for him!

Yankees owner, Hal Steinbrenner, is usually content to work quietly with Brian Cashman and the rest of his staff behind the scenes in providing direction and comment about his team. But in an unusual step that is reminiscent of his father, George Steinbrenner, he did not hesitate in saying that the Yankees are playing for 2017, and not 2018 or beyond.

Later in the interview, however, he did hedge his bets a little, but not much. Speaking at the Major League Baseball owner’s meetings, Steinbrenner told the Associated Press:

On The Yankees Luxury Tax:

The Yankees payroll is gradually decreasing. Last year, the team topped out at $224 million, causing a luxury tax of $26.5 million to be imposed on the team. It’s a tricky thing as you want to get as close to the threshold (if you can afford to) without going over the top. Steinbrenner explains:

Asked if there was hesitation on his part to bring back Aroldis Chapman, paying him $86 million, in spite of his connection to a spousal abuse case, for which he received a suspension of 29 games last season by MLB. Steinbrenner didn’t back off telling AP:

Then, Steven Wine from AP asked about the role that Alex Rodriguez will be playing in Spring Training, to which Hal Steinbrenner said:

Steinbrenner’s Expectations For The Yankees

Alex is going to take to this new role like a cat takes to a scratch pole. He’s going to work quietly, but effectively. And the new guys are going to love him. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see his role as an instructor increase as the years go on if he wants it to grow.

So, Hal Steinbrenner appears to be delivering a message that suggests to the younger players (paraphrasing), “Okay, I know you guys are new here. But at the same time, you are wearing a major league uniform and playing for the New York Yankees. You are expected to learn and grow at the same time. 2017 is not a throwaway year for the Yankees. So, let’s pony up.”

It’s a given that Hal will never be George. George was larger than life, and his legacy as a Yankees owner stands alone as the standard that emphasizes the Yankees winning tradition. Son Hal doesn’t need to be all that. He just needs to do what he’s doing when he gives interviews like this one.

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And I would not have said that a year ago.

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