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The Yankees' Payroll Squeeze As they Head to Spring Training

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Feb 5, 2025 11:04 AM ET

With the addition of left-handed reliever Tim Hill, the pressure builds on the New York Yankees front office to make a bigger move. Hill's deal adds nearly $3 million to the Yankees' payroll . With an edict from Managing Partner Hal Steinbrenner to stay under the highest luxury-tax threshold, General Manager Brian Cashman has to make some moves.

With the one-year, $2.85 million Hill deal on the payroll, the Yankees stand at $304.7, according to Cots' Contracts. That puts them over the $301 million threshold Steinbrenner was referring to, meaning they would have to pay over $45 million in competitive balance tax in 2025. The New York Yankees paid $62,512,111 in competitive balance tax last season, the third-highest tax bill in baseball behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.

And even with their payroll soaring beyond what Steinbrenner wanted, the Yankees are not yet a complete team.

Hill filled one of the biggest holes on the roster as the only left-handed reliever, but the Yankees needed more than that to compete. They need another infielder, preferably a third-baseman. With Jazz Chisholm, Jr. expected to slide over to second base, the Yankees have DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza scheduled to fight for the spot in spring training.

The Yankees are not looking to bring in a top-ticket third baseman like Alex Bregman, whose free agency has stalled the market, but a steady veteran bat at third would help.

So, the Yankees have to push even harder to trade veteran right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman. Ridding themselves of his $18.5 million salary, which is far too high for a sixth starter would give them the room they need to add an infielder.

They have been trying to trade Stroman since the offseason began, but they will likely have a better chance as spring training starts. Once teams see what their starters look like and if there are injuries, the need for pitching always increases in the spring.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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