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This Yankees offseason has no $189 million goal, nor does it appear a half-billion-dollar spending spree is in the offing, but owner Hal Steinbrenner and the team will likely make a few moves. As always, we like to be helpful at ESPN New York, so once again, we will aid the Yankees' decision-makers with a little game we like to call Spend Hal's Money. Today's Candidate: Max Scherzer
Position: RHP
Age: 30 (31 in late July)
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 220
2014 numbers: $15.525 million salary, 18-5, 3.15 ERA, 220 1/3 IP, 1.175 WHIP PROS: Of the top three starters on the market, Scherzer is the youngest. He is nearly four years younger than James Shields and six months younger than Jon Lester. While the age difference between Scherzer and Lester is not significant, it is possible Scherzer has had less tear on his arm. The past two years, Scherzer has arguably been the most dominant of the trio, highlighted by his 21-3, 2.90 ERA, Cy Young-winning 2013 season. He is a power guy who, in theory, can be a difference-maker in the regular season and the postseason. Of course, Scherzer's performance for the Tigers in the playoffs has been a bit of a crapshoot. You pay the big money for the regular season and then hope it works out in the playoffs. Scherzer has been a 200-plus inning guy the past two years. With a healthy Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda, adding Scherzer might make the Yankees the favorites in the AL East. Yes, he will command a big salary, but if the Yankees want to make the postseason next year, it might be a check they have to write. CONS: Before the 2014 season, Scherzer turned down a six-year, $144 million offer to stay with the Tigers. He didn't do that to take less on the open market. So those parameters are where the negotiations will begin, but knowing Scherzer's agent, Scott Boras, they won't be where they end. The Yankees have the money, but with Steinbrenner seemingly wanting to control the payroll, the money and years could be the biggest deterrent. Scherzer will likely want seven years, which would take him into his mid-30s. Unlike Lester, who was traded this season, Scherzer would cost the Yankees a first-round pick. THE VERDICT: I'd be in on Scherzer if I were the Yankees. As we said with Lester and Shields, this is an area the Yankees can improve. Just because the pitching wasn't the problem in 2014, it doesn't mean it might not be the issue in 2015. More importantly, the Yankees would have a chance to have a dominant rotation if everyone stays healthy. These longer-term deals are risky and the back half of the contracts are particularly worrisome, but the Yankees can't just punt on seasons, can they? This is not the NFL or the NBA, where tanking a season or two can conceivably be rewarded by bouncing off the bottom to relevancy with high draft picks as the springboard. I would have my parameters, but in the end, the Yankees would have a dream rotation with Scherzer, Tanaka, Pineda, Ivan Nova and CC Sabathia. If Luis Severino and/or Manny Banuelos join Shane Greene, then all of a sudden the Yankees could have a really impressive -- and deep -- staff.
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