A sample Yankees simulation of the MLB offseason

SB Nation holds a simulation of the MLB offseason. Thirty volunteers take the role of GM for their favorite MLB team. This is the fourth consecutive year that Gary Sanchez is GM of Yankees. Max Rieper of Royals Review oversees the sim.

The new GM is free to set his own organizational philosophy. There are no players with no-trade clauses, but minor league players can be traded. Cash can also be dealt, as long as it's specified. The GM can offer player, club, mutual, and vesting options. He can't negotiate long-term deals for players that are not free agents. There is no contract extensions. New GM's budget is $257 million. Yankees have nine free-agents, none larger than Aaron Judge. They have two mostly-dead contracts in Aaron Hicks and Josh Donaldson. Luis Severino, Aaron Aaron, Anthony Rizzo, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Carlos Correa and Oswald Peraza are free agent.

The new GM is free to set their own organizational philosophy. Minor leaguers can be traded, but the amount must be specified. There is no negotiation of long-term deals for players that are not free agents. The top offer will typically be taken.

Yankees sign Elieser Hernández to a 1-year, $3 million deal with a $5 million club option.

The Yankees are the only big player to make a big move in the simulation. The sim has a structural problem as the trades are reasonable. Free agency is crazy as teams exceed budgets frequently.

Yankees sign Trea Turner to an 11-year, $420 million deal. The sim offers a $100 million premium. Carlos Correa got 10/400 million from Atlanta. The simulation is playing in the environment that we're given. It's not realistic. In real life, Turner wouldn't get $400M.

Yankees sign Aaron Judge to a 10-year, $500 million deal.

The Yankees won the free agent auction for Aaron Judge. The Cardinals engaged in a bidding war. Aaron is the best player the Yankees have produced since Mickey Mantle. He is worth $320 million. in the real world, Aaron would be worth about $50 million a year.

Yankees acquired P Alex Wood from Giants for INF Gleyber Torres and Yoendrys Gomez. Glyber is projected for a three and a half win season next year. Alex is a high-floor player, but expensive. Domingo Germán will be moved to the bullpen. Ian Happ and Wood project for 5.0 fWAR compared to Schmidt and Gilyber’s 4.2.

Yankees sign Chris Owings and Ehire Adrianza to minor league deals. They also signed Josh Donaldson. The Yankees didn't sign a starter in free agency. They didn’t get Pablo López from Miami. Other notable free agent signings include Xander Bogaerts, Dansby Swanson, Joey Gallo, and Jameson Taillon.

The simulation of the MLB offseason shows the Yankees' Opening Day roster.

Yankees simulation of the MLB offseason line-up:Trea Turner, Aaron Judge, Ian Happ, Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu, Josh Donaldson, Oswald Peraza, Harrison Bader, Jose Trevino, Anthony Volpe. Donaldon has a month or so to rebound from his 2022 contract. If he can't, he'll get DFA’d and Vol pepe will slide into the roster spot.

Oswaldo Cabrera, Kyle Higashioka, Tim Locastro, and the winner of a spring training competition from the minor leagues will fill the last bench spot.

The Yankees have a good rotation, but it's thin. The team is betting a lot on Cortes repeating his success from 2022, Sevy staying healthy and Montas being worth the price they paid at the deadline.

Yankees have saved $32 million from Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman and didn't pursue any expensive relievers. Their Opening Day payroll is $270 million. They exceeded their recommended budget by 5%. Turner and Judge will command about $20 million more in AAV than they will in real life.

A sample Yankees simulation of the MLB offseason is available.