The future of the New York Yankees is heavily invested in the arms of pitchers Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. Whether they're dealt as blue-chip prospects, or remain in pinstripes and mature into front of the rotation starters, they are commodities of utmost importance and top priority.
Which is why it's surprising to hear the Yankees didn't offer salary arbitration to any player on their roster, specifically Bobby Abreu. It's like New York GM Brian Cashman has forgotten how the Yankees originally acquired their two most valuable pitching arms.
Both Hughes and Chamberlain were products of the free agent compensation program. This program compensates teams who lose Type A or Type B free agents with draft picks. The idea is to make sure teams who don't have the money to sign the best players are not eaten alive by the system.
In the case of the Yankees, Chamberlain was drafted with a pick the Yankees received when Tom Gordon left via free agency. That certainly worked out nicely! Hughes was acquired when Andy Pettitte decided leave the Bronx to pitch for Houston. Ironically, Pettitte was among those not offered arbitration this year.
By the time the draft rolls around, the Yankees won't have the extra picks to take select a young stud like Hughes or Chamberlain. Not only that, if the Yankees sign a couple of the type A free agents like C.C. Sabathia or Mark Teixeira as everyone expects, then they will be losing four draft picks.
The reason a team might not offer arbitration is typically because of finances. The Arizona Diamondbacks, for example, didn't offer arbitration to Adam Dunn, the best offensive player on their roster, because it would destroy their budget if they somehow got stuck with that contract.
So upon the heels of the recession announcement, a franchise making the tough call to sacrifice draft picks, the seeds of the farm system, is somewhat understandable. But for the New York Yankees to quibble over a potential one year $16 million deal for Abreu, even as they boast about outspending anyone to acquire their guys, is inexplicable.
One way to justify this move would be to re-sign Abreu to a two or three year deal. If Cashman knows Abreu wants to return, then there's no need to risk arbitration. But otherwise, this decision looks shortsighted.
