LAS VEGAS — When the Yankees vacated the winter meetings on Thursday morning, they headed for the airport and flights to New York without having stuffed two relievers into their baggage.
Because agreed with J.A. Happ on a two-year contract — worth $34 million with a $17 million option for 2021 based on games started that could push the deal to three years and $51 million — during the meat-market flesh swap, the Yankees’ offseason hasn’t been dormant.
However, it does leave the Yankees heading into the holidays searching for those two relievers and an infielder, who in a perfect world could play short until Didi Gregorius returns from Tommy John surgery and then shift into a utility role.
Of course, if the Yankees sign Manny Machado, the landscape changes dramatically.
Jeurys Familia signing a three-year deal worth $30 million to return to the Mets and Joe Kelly taking a three-year contract for $25 million to move from the world-champion Red Sox to the Dodgers, the team Boston beat in the World Series, removed two arms from the bullpen aisle of the free-agent market.
Kelly switching coasts might be the forerunner for David Robertson changing uniforms in baseball’s most heated rivalry. The Red Sox have been interested in Robertson, who turns 34 in April, since shortly after the World Series, and recently a person familiar with their thinking said, “They are heavy on him.”
Robertson, who is representing himself after splitting with longtime agent Scott Leventhal, owns a home in Rhode Island and has stated a preference for remaining in the Northeast. He had a strong 2018 season, when he went 8-3 with a 3.23 ERA in 69 appearances. He struck out 91 in 69 ²/₃ innings.
His future with the Yankees is cloudy because he chaired a very controversial players’ shares meeting at the end of the regular season that resulted in support staff shares being slashed from a year ago.