We all have noticed the Dodgers’ spending spree, right? First, they got Shohei Ohtani to a contract considered the largest in sports history until Juan Soto. Then the team grabbed Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Recently the club even signed Blake Snell for $182 million and Tanner Scott for $72 million. Of course, the club wants to make a World Series-winning team and maybe, they did. 

They saw that their strategy of getting the best players and spending more is working, so they are doing just that. The Dodgers are also a big fan of deferred payments. This gives the crew some flexibility on payroll. However, such an approach puts other teams like the Yanks in a difficult position. New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner voiced his concerns over this. 

Hal Steinbrenner shares his view on the Dodgers’ spending habits  

Hal Steinbrenner went on YESNetwork and talked to Meredith Marakovits. On the whole Dodgers situation, Steinbrenner said, “Well, look: It’s difficult for most of us owners to be able to do the kind of things that they’re doing. Now, we’ll see if it pays off. They still have to have a season relatively injury-free for it to work out for them, and it’s a long season, as you know, and once you get to the postseason, anything can happen. We’ve seen that time and time again.” 

The Yankees lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, so of course, the pinstripes are scared that they will lose again. But Steinbrenner is proud of the team he has assembled this offseason. The Yanks owner says that he has a better team now than he did last year. They had Juan Soto, but this time, the Dominican player is with the Mets. In such a scenario, the Pinstripes signed Paul Goldschmidt and Max Fried while also getting Cody Bellinger in a trade.  

The Yankees have once again made a splash in the international market

The Bronx locked down one of the most exciting young prospects: Mani Cedeno, the shortstop from the baseball hotbed of San Pedro de Macorís in the Dominican Republic. Ranked No. 11 by MLB Pipeline in this year’s international class, Cedeno’s arrival is a big deal for the team as they continue to build their future.

At just 16 years old, the kid’s got a lot of time to grow, and scouts are already buzzing about his potential. With a sweet all-around skill set, including solid defense and a bat that’s starting to turn heads, the Yankees are hoping he can follow in the footsteps of some of the game’s best shortstops. The fact that he’s from a place that has produced legends—think: Robinson Cano, Manny Ramirez, and David Ortiz—only adds to the excitement.

He’ll be joining the Yankees’ system on a $2.5 million signing bonus, part of the team’s $6.26 million international pool this year. Despite his young age, his high ceiling has scouts convinced that this might be one of the smartest investments in the organization’s future. He trains with Daniel Brito at the Paulino Baseball Academy, which is part of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, so you know he’s getting some top-notch development.

So, do you think Cedeno could be the future face of the Yankees infield?