The Yankees are no longer the Yankees

The Yankees care more about a profit than winning in the Hal Steinbrenner Era

New York Yankees Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner speaks during a press conference regarding changes to the Yankees facial hair policy during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. February 21, 2025. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara

We are approaching the 16 year anniversary of the Yankees 2009 World Series Championship, their most recent championship to date.

In the 2008–2009 offseason after missing the postseason, the front office pulled off a tore de force, bringing in the two biggest free-agent pitchers, CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, and the biggest free-agent bat, first basemen Mark Teixeira. The 2009 Yankees went on to win 103 games in the regular season and win the World Series in six games over the Phillies.

Since then, the Yankees have mostly been in contention, but have not been able to get over the hump back to a championship.

Out on the West Coast, the LA Dodgers have become the new ‘Evil Empire’, buying all the top free-agent talent on the market, and spending as much money as possible. There is no direct correlation that spending leads to championships, but aquiring the best talent does.

In the era of the Aarons, Judge and Boone that is, the Yankees have regularly come into the season with multiple holes in the team. Whether the team is lacking a first basemen, third baseman, left fielder, lacking a starter, bullpen leaking, ect. the Yankees don’t, and likely won’t go the extra mile to put a juggernaut on the field from the get go.

“It’s difficult for most of us owners to be able to do the kinds of things they’re doing.” Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner told ESPN last winter. “We’ll see if it pays off. They still have to have a season relatively injury free for it to work out for them.”

Well, it’s October 15th, and so far, it’s working out for the Dodgers. The Dodgers outlasted injurys sustained throughout the season to key contributors like Teoscar Hernandez, Max Muncy, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, among others, and yet they are knocking on the door of another NL pennant, and the best chance to win back-to-back World Championships since the Dynasty Yankees from 1998–2000.

You are the New York Yankees — a franchise synonymous with wealth, power, and a legacy of excellence. You have the financial capability to acquire virtually any player you want, yet time and again, you choose restraint. You could operate like the Los Angeles Dodgers — aggressive in player development, fearless in payroll flexibility, and committed to turning spending into sustained success. But instead, the modern Yankees prioritize profitability over pure dominance.

And, for the record, if the Yankees go on and win a World Series, the profit they gain will more than pay for the contrats of superstars. Bring back the Yankees.

The Yankees are no longer the Yankees was originally published in FanZone Report on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.