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The Yankees are reportedly looking to spend around $300 million in free agency this winter and names are piling up. They've been connected to Shin-Soo Choo, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, and Masahiro Tanaka. Now they have shown interest in Matt Garza, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Stephen Drew too.
With Robinson Cano, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Hiroki Kuroda, Curtis Granderson, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan, Lyle Overbay, Travis Hafner, Kevin Youkilis, Brendan Ryan, and Mark Reynolds all coming off the books, that's more than $80 million the Yankees have to spend.
The Yankees had previously tried to sign Drew last offseason, but he took less money to remain a shortstop with the Red Sox. Ellsbury is expected to get a deal in the $100 million range, but has also been injury prone over the years. Both will reportedly receive qualifying offers from the Red Sox, so they will cost draft picks if they decline. I don't think it's in the Yankees' best interest to start giving away draft picks, especially for questionable talent.
Matt Garza, having been traded midseason, can't be given a qualifying offer. Garza has been an above-average pitcher his entire career and proved he can succeed in the AL East. He'll be 30 next year and will be looking for a big deal in the offseason, but his best season cam with the Cubs in the NL Central. He might not be worth the money he could command.
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