MLB Rumors: Yankees Still In On Trevor Story

Will they or won't they? The New York Yankees have been linked this offseason to the big-ticket items remaining in the free agent pool, while at the same time, word circulates that they will not be spending big on a shortstop. 

Yankees Insider Andy Martino reports on SNY that "at the GM meetings in November, we were told by league sources that the Yankees were exploring the markets for top shortstops like Carlos Correa and Corey Seager."

Much of the supposed hesitancy to spend big at short is due to the fact that the Yankees have two of the top shortstop prospects in the minors, in Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza. But Martino suggests that isn't being considered a deterrent.

"Cashman was not deterred by the presence of Volpe and Peraza in the system," wrote Martino, "because the team could simply sign one of the big names to play short and later shift them to another position, if necessary."

Will Story take a short-term, high-AAV deal? 

With so many massive contracts already handed out to the likes of Seager, Marcus Semien, and Javy Baez, Martino suggests that "if the market craters" for someone like Story, and he "loses the game of shortstop musical chairs, the Yanks could be there to offer a pillow contract." By that, he means a short-term, high-AAV (average annual value) "bet on yourself" type contract. This would allow Story to re-enter the market in short order, and try to cash out, similar to what Semien did by signing a one-year deal with Toronto in 2021. 

At this point in time. I think the Yankees will sign Story to a 1 or 2 year deal with high AAV. Similar to Semien with the blue jays. They were willing to offer verlander big bucks for short term. So they will probably end up doing that with Trevor Story.

— TheBleacherCreatures (@The_Bleacherss) February 1, 2022

Yankees beat writers go more in-depth on their shortstop issues at nj.com.

If all of this doesn't work out, and Cashman is still hesitant for one reason or another to spend big on Correa or Story, never fear, Yankee fans: other less exciting names like Nick Ahmed and Andrelton Simmons have been tied to the Bronx over the offseason.

Photo Credit:  Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports