TAMPA, Fla. — In detail, Hal Steinbrenner explained his unexpected big announcement Friday morning.
More than 20 minutes of questions and responses were made about the decision of a team of Yankees managing partners to relax the team’s appearance policy adopted by their late father, George Stein Brenner. General Manager Brian Cashman, sitting at Steinbrenner’s Right, also provided some insights.
Before the press conference concluded 90 minutes before the first pitch of the Yankees’ first Grapefruitreeg match, Stein Brenner was grilled about his 2025 salary.
Reporter: It’s been nearly 20 years since a team that advanced to the World Series reduced its salary the following season. My salary is currently low. Are you planning on reducing your salary this year?
“Our salary is roughly the same as last year,” Steinbrenner said, counting high-end tax penalties after the Yankees went up to $310 million in 2024, and counting high-end tax penalties. He added that it is a region of
In fact, it’s been 16 years since the team won pennants for a year and cut their next salary. We will cut down the Tampa Bay Rays from 2008 to 2009, but on all accounts, if the Yankees add more money, it will be the next account.
According to Cots Baseball, Yankees’ forecast salary for 2025 was $341 million, down $316.2 million in 2024. Fangraph calculations show that the Yankees have fallen from $313.3 million this year to $335.5 million.
Both have the Yankees with the fourth-highest salary behind the Dodgers, Mets and Phillies.
“We are the New York Yankees,” Steinbrenner added. “We know what our fans are expecting. We will always be the highest paying person on our salary. That hasn’t changed and this year certainly hasn’t changed. We’re right there I’m here.”
Reporter: Reported by many people who want to get based on the threshold (of the highest premium tax). Is that true?
Steinbrenner: “I’m going to say no, the threshold isn’t a concern for me.”
For the first time this year, there were four thresholds, with $303 million at its highest. That would result in an additional 45% charge.
After defending his spending, Steinbrenner lifted something he had been talking about for several years:
“There are great people here, we have a great player development system and we have great young players like Volpes, Wells, Gills, and more.
“Do you really need a salary of over $300 million to win a championship? Does having a huge salary really make my chances bigger? Is there a strong correlation there? I don’t understand.”
Steinbrenner was then asked about speculation that the owner would promote the pay cap in the next CBA. The current one starts in 2022 and expires after the 2026 season. Regardless of whether the owner has a gun with a gun for the hat, there are already rumors of another stoppage of work.
“We’re in the middle of a collective agreement now,” Steinbrenner said. “The only thing I’m focusing seriously is 2025. I’m not focused on 2026. It’s not what the world looks like three or four years from now.
“We’ve already said we’ll consider supporting the cap depending on what the cap is. The team has to spend more.”
Whatever your salary cap number, the Yankees and all other major market teams will likely be affected worse. They will lose some of their money advantage.
Stein Brenner’s take?
“I believe Cashman and everyone under him that our player development system is as strong as it has been in the past few years. That’s why we put a lot of money into it. And I believe that will become a fact.
“We’ve swapped a lot of people over the last few years, and a lot of great players have really come out on all levels. I hope that will continue. You’re our young We saw the players and how they contributed.
“We need veterans and superstars, but the younger players have to be a big part of that, so they’ll continue for us.”
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Randy Miller can be contacted at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.
