TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees once made a habit of winning the offseason. Not coincidentally, they won a lot of titles, too.
It hasn’t happened since 2009, when splashy signings CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira helped New York “buy” its 27th World Series championship.
“The Boss” died a year later. Since then, the sport the Yankees once dominated with big expenditures has instead become all about efficiency. While the Bronx Bombers will still run one of baseball’s highest payrolls in 2022, it has been odd to watch New York stand by while this year’s top free agents have gone to the Minnesota Twins (Carlos Correa), Texas Rangers (Corey Seager and Marcus Semien) and of course, the crosstown Mets (Max Scherzer).
In fact, second-year Mets owner Steve Cohen seems intent on filling the void Steinbrenner left behind as the Big Apple’s biggest spender, willing to pursue a championship at any price.
But what is winning the offseason even worth? To get an idea, here’s a look at clubs who have “won” the offseason since it last worked for the Yankees:
2015-16
Offseason Winners: Chicago Cubs
World Series Winners: Chicago Cubs
The Cubs signed Jason Heyward to the winter’s second-biggest deal at $184 million — trailing only David Price’s $217 contract with Boston — and added Ben Zobrist ($56 million) and John Lackey ($32 million). They also traded out talented-but-frustrating shortstop Starlin Castro. It worked, although the homegrown stars were still the biggest contributors. Chicago ended its 108-year title drought on the backs of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Báez.
2016-17
Offseason Winners: Boston Red Sox
World Series Winners: Houston Astros
The Red Sox get a narrow nod here after acquiring ace Chris Sale from the White Sox and reliever Tyler Thornburg from Milwaukee, just ahead of the Mets re-signing Yoenis Cespedes, the Cardinals adding free agents Dexter Fowler and Brett Cecil, and the Dodgers retaining free agents Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner and Rich Hill. Houston also made a decent splash, acquiring McCann from the Yankees and signing Josh Reddick ($52 million) and Beltran ($16 million).
2017-18
Offseason Winners: New York Yankees
World Series Winners: Boston Red Sox
The Yankees replaced manager Joe Girardi with Aaron Boone, then acquired NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton from the fire-selling Marlins. Stanton had 38 homers and 100 RBIs in his first year, yet Boston won the AL East. The Red Sox were pushed over the top by free agent acquisition J.D. Martinez ($110 million), along with previous headline acquisitions Price and Sale.
2018-19
Offseason Winners: Philadelphia Phillies
World Series Winners: Washington Nationals
San Diego stunned the sport by signing Manny Machado to a $300 million, 10-year deal, but the Phillies still won the winter by adding Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Andrew McCutchen. Harper signed a record $330 million, 13-year contract, Realmuto came in a trade from Miami and McCutchen was added for $50 million. Philadelphia won 81 games, then watched its NL East rival — and Harper’s former team — win it all in October.
2019-20
Offseason Winners: Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series Winners: Los Angeles Dodgers
The Yankees seemed to have made the biggest splash by signing Gerrit Cole to a $324 million deal in December, but then the Dodgers poached 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts from the Red Sox. It worked perfectly for LA, which hoisted the World Series trophy inside baseball’s COVID-19 bubble that fall.
2020-21
Offseason Winners: San Diego Padres
World Series Winners: Atlanta Braves
With a lineup headlined by Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres bolstered their pitching staff by trading for Yu Darvish, Mike Clevinger and Joe Musgrove. They also locked in Tatis with a $340 million, 14-year deal, the longest in baseball history. The Mets and Cohen, in his first year as owner, also made a splash by acquiring Francisco Lindor, Carlos Carrasco and James McCann, but the Braves won the title thanks to a series of trade deadline additions by general manager Alex Anthopoulos.
