Yankees Never Made Contract Offers to Freddie Freeman, Carlos Correa, Says Cashman

The New York Yankees were looking to add an All-Star to their roster ahead of the 2022 season, but fell short after expressing interest in both Carlos Correa, who signed with the Minnesota Twins, and Freddie Freeman, who joined the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Despite that interest, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Monday that the team did not make official contract offers to either player, according to WFAN Sports Radio.

"We never made an official offer to Correa or Freeman, but we were in touch with their reps on what they were looking for," Cashman said. 

Adding either Correa, who signed a three-year, $105.3 million deal, or Freeman, who agreed to a six-year, $162 million contract, would have put the Yankees well over the luxury tax. According to Spotrac, the Yankees' projected tax payroll is 257.5 million, and the first level of the luxury tax threshold is $230 million. 

Instead of adding Freeman, the Yankees patched a hole at first base by adding Anthony Rizzo in a trade with the Chicago Cubs last season. He slashed .249/.340/.428 with eight home runs and 21 RBI in 49 games with the Bronx Bombers last season, so it's not hard to see why Cashman was fine sticking with Rizzo at first in 2022. 

As for shortstop, the Yankees acquired Isiah Kiner-Falefa in a deal with the Twins that also included third baseman Josh Donaldson. In just three games with the Yankees thus far, Kiner-Falefa is hitting 0.91/.167/.182. The big acquisition in that deal was Donaldson, who is hitting .267/.267/.267 with one RBI through three games.

The Yankees opened up the 2022 campaign taking two of three games from the Boston Red Sox. They are one of the best teams in the league on paper, though that has been the case over the last few seasons, and they have fallen short of winning a World Series. 

With the additions of Rizzo, Donaldson and Kiner-Falefa alongside Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees already look better than they did in 2021. Consistency is key, though, and if the team comes up short again this year, fans will be wondering about what could have been if Correa or Freeman had signed in New York.