Yankees plan to be active without breaking the bank in 2014

We’ve all heard about how the Yankees don’t want to break the $189 million threshold, in hopes of avoiding the luxury tax that would follow.

However, the team is still planning to add at least “two top free agents” this winter, according to reports, after the team fielded a lackluster team – at least in Yankees’ standards – in 2013.

According to Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York, the front office is hard at work, looking to return the team to the postseason and stay on budget, spending roughly $300 million total.

Granted, the team’s top priority is bringing back Robinson Cano. That being said, ownership has said that they will not go ten years on a contract, which is reportedly what Cano is seeking in his next deal that is rumored to be in the $300 million ballpark.

Apart from Cano, Masahiro Tanaka, Braves backstop Brian McCann and Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran are all rumored to be on the Bronx Bombers’ wish list, and as mentioned, the team believes they can add at least two of these pieces without breaking their budget.

According to Marchand, there are several ways the team is shedding a massive amount of payroll this winter.

"A source estimates the Yankees are shedding $85MM-$90MM in payroll this winter, which includes the salaries of retiring players Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte as well as free agents Hiroki Kuroda, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Curtis Granderson.  The Yankees have a strong interest in keeping Kuroda and would be open to Granderson if he accepted the one-year qualifying offer, but they aren’t obligated to either player.  Beyond that, Derek Jeter exercising his $9.5MM player option (down from $17MM last year) andAlex Rodriguez‘s suspension being upheld would also help the cause."

In other words, don’t expect New York to be sitting on the sidelines next October. They’ll be back.