Yankees President Randy Levine said there has not been a decrease in initial ticket renewals for the ’15 season, despite missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since '93. Speaking at the MLB owners’ meetings in K.C., Levine said while it is still quite early in the renewal process, initial signs are encouraging. Levine: “We have a loyal group of Yankee fans, and they know we will do what we can to field a championship club." Yankees attendance rose 4% this year to 3.4 million, its first year-over-year increase since ’10, and buttressed in part by strong group sales. Levine said the club will have a much better handle on attendance projections for the ’15 season in January. He did allow, however, that the two-year, non-playoff streak has been emotionally trying. He said, “It’s bad. It’s in our blood. (Late owner George Steinbrenner) always said our goal every year is to win the World Series. When we don’t do that, the season’s a failure.” Levine made no projections on how heavily 3B Alex Rodriguez will figure into the club’s plans next season. He said Rodriguez is "going to be treated like every other player." Levine: "Either he can contribute or he can’t.” He added “the ship has sailed” on the Yankees being able to get underneath the $189M luxury-tax threshold. Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner had frequently cited that as a goal for last season, only to have the club blow well past that with free agent signings of P Masahiro Tanaka, C Brian McCann and CF Jacoby Ellsbury. The Yankees have $169M in ’15 payroll obligations thus far for 11 players, with several arbitration-eligible contracts yet to resolve. “I think it’s impossible for us to hit 189 this year,” Levine said. However, when reminded that Rodriguez no longer has the largest contract in MLB following the Marlins' new deal with RF Giancarlo Stanton, Levine responded, “Thank God! ... Thank God!” (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer).
EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: In N.Y., Ken Davidoff notes the Yankees last winter "were very public and vocal about their intention to go after the market’s top free agents." But Levine said, “Each year is different." He noted Yankees GM Brian Cashman is "doing a lot of his work." Levine: "We know what our needs are. We’re looking to see where everything goes. It’s really, really early. I don’t believe at this time last year, we had really done anything. I think it was much later. I think we’re on our usual pace.” He smiled and added, "We have to have some surprises” (N.Y. POST, 11/20). The N.Y. Daily News’ Anthony McCarron said the Yankees should pursue and sign P Max Scherzer and “use their financial might and get a guy that can help them.” McCarron said, “The Yankees, frankly, aren’t really that believable whatever they say about the offseason, considering, ‘We are definitely going to be under a $189 million with our payroll.’ How’d that go?” (“Daily News Live,” SNY, 11/19).
