Steinbrenner (r) credited Stanton with helping to create excitement heading into the '18 seasongetty images
Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner declined to discuss what gains the team "received at the box office in the offseason" after adding OF Giancarlo Stanton, but "prices on the secondary market have skyrocketed to their highest levels" since '10, according to data from TicketIQ cited by David Lennon of NEWSDAY. Steinbrenner: "Ticket sales are up significantly. I think part of it has to do with Stanton. But I think it was trending that way anyway." Lennon notes the Yankees have embraced their "renewed status as baseball’s Evil Empire." Steinbrenner: "I don’t really ponder that (nickname) too much. But I will tell you one thing: It means you’re relevant again, if people are starting up with that stuff again. That people are concerned about us." Meanwhile, Steinbrenner "made sure to bring back Alex Rodriguez to reprise last year’s advisory role." He has always "seemed to be A-Rod’s biggest supporter." Steinbrenner: "He wants to be a Yankee. He wanted to come back" (NEWSDAY, 3/2).
SAVING UP: In New Jersey, Pete Caldera notes the Yankees are “staying below the luxury tax” and will be “perfectly positioned to chase the next free agent class,” likely headlined by Orioles SS Manny Machado and Nationals RF Bryce Harper. Steinbrenner said, “I haven’t overly thought about a year from now. We’ll look at all options, as we always do.” Steinbrenner said it “goes back to what I’ve been saying now for five-plus years’” about not needing a $200M payroll to win a title. Steinbrenner: "To me, that’s just logic” (Bergen RECORD, 3/2).
