Is This the First Time This Has Ever Happened Ever?

[Edgy MD]

The Yankees have missed out on the top free agent in the marketplace before, because of course they have. You don't need to look further than Shohei Otahni.



But have they ever missed out (1) on the overwhelming consensus top free agent on the market, (2) despite him being a a free agent off their own roster AND (3) despite them going all in to retain him?



The closest I can think of is Reggie Jackson. But while Jackson may have been the top free agent way back in the 1981-1982 offseason, he was still widely thought to be in decline, and it was pretty clear he and Steinbrenner were over each other, so not really?



Is the Steinbrenner Era finally officially over? The Dodgers — and occasionally the Red Sox and Mets — have been the biggest players in the player marketplace for much of the 21st Century, but the sense that the Yankees still get first dibs may have finally died last night.

[MFS62]

It probably is.

But first or schmirst, sit back and enjoy it (while composing the perfect email to your MFY -loving friends and family).



Later

[Edgy MD]

No, not gonna be a bad winner.



I know a lot of douchey Yankee fans, and I can't call them friends, mostly because they act just like that, in everything.



The ones who are friends, I'd rather not turn the knife into.

[Centerfield]

I think it is.



I can only think of a few times the Yankees went all in on a top free agent and didn't get him. Yamamoto was one. Robinson Cano another. Yamamoto was neither a Yankee nor the top guy. Cano, I don't remember where he ranked that offseason, but I think the Yankees eventually tapped out.



I don't remember there being a bidding war as fierce as this, and never one between the Yankees and Mets.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, good recall. Canó was the nearest precedent, and nobody was really drawn in to bid against the Yankees until Canó's brand new agency Roc Nation Sports pulled that Mariner offer seemingly out of the blue.



Looking back, Canó ended up with the biggest contract that offseason with regards to AAV ($24 million per) but Masahiro Tanaka may have been the bigger prize, and he cost the Yankees more ($25 million) per season, once the posting fee was factored in.



The next-highest contract given to a hitter that offseason was to Hunter Pence at $18 million per, which is about where I remember the Yankees being on Canó, and Roc Nation was looking like they were out of their depth until the Mariners blew up the market.

[Frayed Knot]

The Yanx made no attempt to re-sign Reggie after that first five year deal was up.

When Reggie had some success afterward George, you may remember, kept bleating on about how "his baseball people" were the ones who

told him to not sign The Reg-ster so, of course, none of it was His fault.



The Cano thing was definitely about the length in years Seattle gave him rather than the per year money.

The Yanx, rather smartly IMO, chose not to chase that dragon.



Bernie Williams gave them a scare with Boston and the Yanx went higher than they planned to at the last minute so as to not lose him.

Same more recently with Judge (SFG).