5 reasons for the Yankees to be happy about 2016

The Yankees are all but assured of missing the playoffs for the third time in four years. Despite another empty season, there is plenty to be happy about in the Bronx.

Having lost five of their last six games, the New York Yankees are as close to being officially out of the playoff picture as possible. After selling off key pieces at the trade deadline — Andrew Miller, Aroldis Chapman, and Carlos Beltran — the Yankees somehow went on a mini-run that pushed them to the brink of the wild card.

In the end, losing two-thirds of their stellar bullpen and the unsustainable hot starts by their young bats proved too much. Still, the 2016 season should be viewed as a success for the Bronx Bombers, and here’s why.

So much money freed up!

The Yankees were notably the only big-league team that did not sign at least one free agent last winter. Because they had locked themselves in so so many long-term contracts with players of diminishing talent, the Yankees were up against a hefty luxury tax bill every year. Payroll had approached nearly $226 million for this season.

Thanks to expiring contracts and trades, the Yankees are looking at a payroll in the neighborhood of $140-150 million next season — depending on how much they choose to spend this winter. The free-agent crop is relatively weak this year, so the Yankees may choose to continue building a war chest for the eventual free agencies of players like Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Jose Fernandez, and Manny Machado.

The last time the Yankees had this much young talent and available cash, they built the dynasty of the late 90s and early 2000s. It may have been painful for the front office to wave the white flag on the 2016 season, but the decision will pay dividends down the road. The rest of the AL East had better watch out come 2018.