Losing out on a generational talent like Juan Soto is a blow for any team. However, the New York Yankees didn’t have time to overthink—they needed to make the moves quickly in the market before all the key players were gone. So, the team scooped in Max Fried, the No. 1 free agent on their list, and then, they made the trade for Devin Williams and Cody Bellinger too. But there was one overlook—the team’s budget!

The Yankees still had major gaps in the lineup and a budget to overlook—they didn’t get to sign Christian Walker or Pete Alonso, but lack of funds led them elsewhere. So, for first base, with Anthony Rizzo leaving a gap, the Yankees got in former MVP Paul Goldschmidt. He agreed to a one-year deal for $12.5 million, as Jim Bowden reported on Saturday. But the Yankees cannot be done with the off-season just yet; they have a hole at second base as Gleyber Torres is a free agent.

Have the Yankees run out of money?

With many additions headed to the Bronx, many are headed out too. One name that’s almost guaranteed to move out of the Bronx is Gleyber Torres, who is likely to warrant a contract of $10 million for three years. Plus, there have been reports that the Los Angeles Angels are eyeing him for their bullpen. So, what will the Yankees do if he leaves? Jon Heyman contacted Aaron Boone, manager of the Yankees, and apparently, he has a plan.

Heyman said Boone mentioned he is leaning on moving pieces already in the team and then going for anyone in a trade or free-agent market. So the plan involves moving Jazz Chisolm from third base to second base to replace Torres. And let Oswaldo Cabrera and DJ LeMahieu tune it in at third base. “Basically what they are saying is, now they are out of money,” Heyman noted on CBS Sports.

However, if that doesn’t work and a better opportunity comes, Heyman mentioned that the New York Yankees can make that one more move. Jon Heyman also said that the lineup with the new players coming now looks even better than last year—he acknowledges that none of them are Juan Soto, but still added, “You can win in different ways, and I would argue this is a better team.” And as it turns out, the decision on Paul Goldschmidt wasn’t an impromptu one.

The New York Yankees are playing the long game

The Yankees are playing an extremely calculated game with their eyes peeled on the future, according to Jim Bowden. Signing Paul Goldschmidt for a one-year deal isn’t just about filling a gap but keeping the options open for a blockbuster deal next off-season. Bowden on CBS Sports spilled the beans, saying, “They love the fact he’s on a one-year deal. Why is that? Because free agency, like Kyle Tucker and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., are two players they are going to have interest in next offseason,”—so, it seems like they wanted to be flexible.

Had the New York Yankees signed Christian Walker, who is 34 years old, they would have given him a three-year contract as the Houston Astros did. A one-year deal on Goldshmidt keeps their flexibility open for next year’s market, and it’s easy to see why they want to go all in for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.—he has had a stellar 2024 and hit .323 with 30 home runs for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Now, it’s been known that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doesn’t want to be a Yankee due to some past dilemma. However, he has changed his mind; speaking with Virus Deportivo, Guerrero Jr. had said, “I sat down and spoke with my dad and my family, and this is a business.” So, who knows? Maybe the team and Vladimir are already in talks!

Did you anticipate Goldschmidt signing with the Yankees? Let us know in the comments below.