The slow Yankees off-season is becoming a problem for Michael Kay.
The YES Network play-by-play man and ESPN radio host took to the team on Thursday in the wake of the Mets’ exchange for Francisco Lindor.
The Yankees’ off-season is seemingly on hold until DJ LeMahieu – the team’s top priority – makes his decision. The icy off-season baseball allows for patience, but that changed on Thursday, at least for Kay.
“Here’s the deal: I’ve always felt a perfect Plan B if you didn’t sign DJ LeMahieu, turn around, get Francisco Lindor, and move Gleyber Torres into second place. Boom, you’ve improved your defenses, ”Kay said on his radio show, via NJ.com.
“I’ve always been very, very honest when people said, ‘Why don’t they sign LeMahieu?’ I said, ‘Well what’s the rush? The great (free agents) players are still there. Trevor Bauer did not sign. George Springer did not sign. JT Realmuto has not signed. And DJ has not signed. ‘Very slow moving market. But if this slow chicken game that the Yankees and LeMahieu are playing with each other costs them the chance at Lindor, that’s a bad job. “
The Yankees are determined not to cross the $ 210 million luxury tax threshold off-season, leaving them with about $ 30 million to spend.
Prior to Lindor’s acquisition, the Mets were considered one of the potential challengers for LeMahieu. The Dodgers and Blue Jays continue to be threats.
Joel Sherman of the Post reported in mid-December that the Yankees and LeMahieu were $ 25 million apart in contract negotiations. In addition to wanting to keep LeMahieu, the Yankees also have a blatant lack of depth in their rotation. The Mets’ trade also brought them quality veteran starter Carlos Carrasco.
“You can’t sit here until February and let DJ LeMahieu make a decision,” said Kay, who started his Thursday show an hour earlier to discuss the latest Lindor news.
“And if you’re DJ LeMahieu, you can’t sit there and let the Yankees play their game. They both need to get together, “What’s your best offer for me right now?” And when DJ’s agent said (to the Yankees), ‘The only way we can get this done is five years,’ he knows he’s going to take four … They have to go to a ‘Come-to-Jesus’ come meeting and say exactly what the deal is because if all this attitude costs you your plan B, no good.
“It’s now at the point where you have to do it or get out of the pot. ‘Are you going to sign with us or not? Are you going to make me an offer or not? Enough of the game. “