Yankees: 3 overpaid players we need to break up with immediately

The days of the Yankees simply outspending the competition are over. That’s why New York needs to dump these three overpaid stars this offseason.

There was a time when the Yankees didn’t concern themselves with the size of their payroll. That isn’t the reality in the Bronx any longer though. These days, Brian Cashman needs to keep the team’s payroll in check to satisfy ownership. That’s why getting rid of bloated salaries will be a priority for the Yankees’ front office in the coming months.

Of course, getting rid of big salaries isn’t a straightforward proposition. Competing franchises aren’t anxious to help the Yankees in their quest to win their 28th World Series title. Cashman and the front office may be forced to attach assets to the contracts of their overpaid players if they want to shed payroll.

There’s no guarantee Cashman will be able to swing a significant cost-cutting deal this offseason, but if he does, Yankees fans should keep a particularly close eye on the following three stars.

3. Zack Britton

Injuries were a big problem for the veteran reliever last season. He only managed to pitch 18.1 innings with an ugly ERA of 5.89 last season. That’s terrible value for a player who is scheduled to make $14 million next year.

The Yankees are one of the only franchises in MLB who can afford to pay a setup guy that kind of cash. That means the team will likely be forced to hope Britton can bounce back in 2022 with improved health. Even if he does, it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to justify his salary.

Cashman’s only hope here is that another team will view Britton as a potential buy-low option to be their closer. The Yankees might be able to pair him with a mid-level prospect to get rid of him to a competitor that views Britton in that light.