The Yankees cleared another offseason hurdle on Thursday, reaching salary agreements with all ten arbitration-eligible players. Aside from the biggest acquisition of the offseason in Juan Soto, the players receiving raises are as follows: Gleyber Torres, Nestor Cortes Jr., Clay Holmes, Alex Verdugo, Trent Grisham, Victor González, Clarke Schmidt, Jonathan Loáisiga, and Jose Trevino.
Juan Soto
Juan Soto reached a record-breaking agreement worth $31.5 million, providing a glimpse into the mind of Scott Boras and his expectations ahead of Soto’s free agency. If Shohei Ohtani’s previous record of $30 million is a sign of Soto’s future salary, Hal Steinbrenner’s commitment to a championship will face a significant test.
Gleyber Torres
The Yankees’ 2nd baseman cashed in ahead of his last year under team control, reaching an agreement for $14.2 million. Going into this season, the club has been hesitant to extend Gleyber. This could be the season he shows Brian Cashman and company why he’s worth the money.
Nestor Cortes Jr.
After injuries cut short his 2023 campaign, Nasty Nestor will strive for a strong start in 2024. The team will expect him to do just that, agreeing to pay $3.95 million for another year of his mustachioed cleats.
Clay Holmes
Some have called for his head; others can’t say enough good things about his sinker, but all seem to agree that Clay Holmes will remain the Yankees closer this season. Holmes will hope to continue his late-inning heroics, as he and the team have agreed to $6 million.
Alex Verdugo
Verdugo fills the outfield vacancy and hopes to add a valuable bat to a Yankee lineup that was anemic, to put it mildly, in 2023. He reached an agreement late in the evening worth $8.7 million.
Trent Grisham
The other half of the Juan Soto deal starts his Yankees career with a new $5.5 million contract. The defense-first outfielder provides a glove sorely missing in the lineup.
Victor González
González comes to the Bronx as part of the trade that sent Trey Sweeney to the Dodgers. In his first year of eligibility, González starts his Yankees tenure under an $860,000 contract.
Clarke Schmidt
After his first complete season as a starting pitcher, Clarke will start the 2024 season making $2,025,000. If the Yankees don’t make any other pitching moves this offseason, Schmidt will likely be the number-five starter behind the newly acquired Marcus Stroman.
Jonathan Loáisiga
Loáisiga was sidelined for most of the 2023 season but will bring his bat-shattering sinker back to the Yankees’ bullpen in 2024. Loáisiga and the team avoided arbitration after agreeing to $2.5 million.
Jose Trevino
The Platinum Glove Award winner was benched in July last year after discovering he had torn a ligament in his wrist. He will join Ben Rortvedt and Austin Wells behind the plate this year with a freshly minted contract worth $2.73 million.
