Hal Steinbrenner says Yankees could seek outside help for fix after 'unacceptable' season
Describing the Yankees’ last place standing as “unacceptable,’’ Hal Steinbrenner said the club is considering hiring a third party to examine its baseball operations.
This offseason, “we’re going to take a very deep dive into everything we’re doing,’’ the Yankees’ managing general partner told Associated Press reporter Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., Thursday.
“We’re looking to bring in possibly an outside company to really take a look at the analytics side of what we do. Baseball operations in general,’’ said Steinbrenner.
“We’re going to have some very frank conversations with each other. This year was obviously unacceptable.’’
With the AL’s highest payroll at roughly $290 million, second only among MLB teams to the equally disappointing Mets, Steinbrenner’s Yankees are headed toward the franchise’s first sub-.500 season since 1992.
How the organization blends analytic-driven information and traditional coaching and scouting methods has been a subject of debate.
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The analytic side came under deeper scrutiny this summer with the firing of batting coach Dillon Lawson, the first coach or manager dismissed in-season during Brian Cashman’s 26-year run as general manager.
Signed to a four-year extension last December, Cashman’s long and trusted business relationship with Steinbrenner suggests he’ll remain in place, though manager Aaron Boone’s 2024 status might be less certain.
But the owner's open thoughts of bringing in an outside company to examine baseball ops, led by Cashman since 1998, signals a recognition of systemic flaws within an organization that has not won a pennant since 2009 despite its talent and resource advantages.
There is more evaluating to do, especially as it pertains to the Yankees’ sudden youth movement.
Top-three organizational prospects Jasson Dominguez and Austin Wells are due to be called up this weekend, making their MLB debuts Friday at Houston.
“We’ll learn a lot in September and we’ll learn a lot in the spring,” Steinbenner told the AP. “That’s why I didn’t want to trade these guys away at the trade deadline.’’
That group extends to outfielder Everson Pereira and infielder Oswald Peraza, who were called up in August. Five rookies could be in Boone’s lineup on Friday night.
“We’ve traded away too many guys the last few years,’’ Steinbrenner said. “So, I think it will be exciting.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Hal Steinbrenner: Yankees analytics may change after 2023
