Amed Rosario Sacrifices $2.5 Million to Join Rays, Spurning Richer Yankees Offer – Why?

In repairing one wire, the Bronx Bombers may have forgotten to see that another one was ready to trigger an explosion. The thin outfield was a consistent issue for the New York Yankees in the last few years. Finally, Brian Cashman has solved that puzzle by bringing in a bunch of quality players. However, that singular focus has led to neglection of another area of improvement – their infield growing weaker. Cashman may have recognized this, but could it be too late to fix the situation?

Amidst reports of injury to their backup shortstop Oswald Peraza, the Yankees are desperately looking for an infielder. Things have been barren till now, but it isn’t because of lack of effort. Reports indicate that the Pinstripes have tried their luck in a bunch of places, but fate has eluded them till now. That was true recently as well when Amed Rosario rejected their $4 million offer for $1.5 million from the Tampa Bay Rays! That raises a question – is the Yankees’ allure dying? 

Amed Rosario’s shocking decision is a symptom of a larger issue

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post – the Yankees had offered $4 million to Rosario, but he found the Tampa Bay Rays’ $1.5 million offer better. The shortstop had quite a straightforward reason for this decision – more playing time in the Rays. Rosario’s agent emphasized this during an interview with the Post.

“Rosario’s representative Ulises Cabrera told The Post that what Tampa Bay could provide was a clearer route to regular at-bats, including at shortstop where Tampa Bay is currently lined up to go with Jose Caballero,” Sherman reported. As a result, the Bombers lost out on a quality backup because of better chances of playing. 

This is a situation that the Bronx Bombers have been dealing with for quite some time. While their roster is thin, the team’s starting squad is filled with talented names. In case of no injury, displacing them from their position could be tough. At 28 – Rosario understandably wants to play more, something that he might not be able to do due to Anthony Volpe’s presence.

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But this isn’t the only time that the Yankees have been rejected this offseason. Another shortstop had done the same to them a few days ago.

New York Yankees’ desperate bid for the shortstop 

GM Brian Cashman had recognized quite early that the Yankees lacked any depth in their infield. As a result, he asked for Hal Steinbrenner’s permission to sign one, and the owner accepted and provided him with cash. The first player they went after was Enrique Hernandez. However, his preference was always the LA Dodgers. So even when the Bronx Bombers offered him a good deal, Hernandez chose the $4 million offer by the Dodgers.

Now once again the Pinstripes have lost on a shortstop – this time to a lesser deal. Have the Yankees lost their allure? Or is it just too much quality in their squad? Hopefully, the latter is truer than the former.

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