It’s a New Yankees World

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The New York Yankees are going about their business this offseason in different way. The Yankees are no longer signing big free agent contracts, not spending money like its on fire and are focusing more on the trade market.

For a team trying to get younger, the sports market in New York and prestigious Yankees brand does not allow for much time to “rebuild.” Yankees president Randy Levine made that very clear on Tuesday at a press conference at Yankee Stadium.

“What has to be noticed here, unlike very few teams, what we’ve done, is we can’t rebuild here,’’ Levine told reporters Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, promoting the Dec. 26 New Era Pinstripe Bowl between Duke and Indiana. “That’s not what we’re about. We’re trying to win every year and we’re trying to get younger and transition. Most teams, they have two, three, four years to rebuild. We don’t do that.’’

They definitely do not.

Later Tuesday night the Yankees acquired second baseman Starlin Castro from the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Adam Warren and infielder Brendan Ryan.

The Yankees have found a good young second baseman and have gotten younger. Castro, who turns 26 in March, is a three time all-star. In 2015 he slashed .265/.296/.375 in 2015, with 23 doubles, 11 home runs and 69 runs batted in.

The 26-year old fits the new Yankees plan. Major League Baseball is becoming a young mans game and the sooner teams realize that the more successful they will be.

“I think at the end of the day this is becoming a young players’ game and I think it’s important to recognize that,” Levine said. “It’s been shown you don’t need a $200 million payroll to win. You need a blend of good young players and veterans and a lot of luck to go through the playoffs.”

After big contracts like Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran, Mark Texiera and CC Sabathia will the Yankees return to the big-ticket free agents?

Maybe, but the league has changed, winning is about spending money anymore. Finding a Core Four that the Yankees did in the mid 90s is tough to come by.

The Yankees have also traded left-handed pitcher Justin Wilson to Detroit for two minor leaguers. Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman reportedly liked the idea of trading Wilson right before he becomes more expensive with arbitration.

The Yankees may not be done this offseason, but it is safe to say they are in a rebuilding state of mind.