Do the math, and it's clear that Cashman has no money for another big name

Unless some good-hearted Samaritan steps forward to swallow and digest Jacoby Ellsbury's $21 million per season albatross contract, Friday's signing of utility infielder Jace Peterson may have signaled a de facto end to Brian "Cooperstown" Cashman's fantasy winter a-go-go shopping spree. Yesterday, we discussed Peterson's glove, lack of bat, and potential Yankee role, without fully blathering about his financial significance. Let us never leave a good blathering on the side of the road. So, here goes...

By spending $900,000 (plus incentives) on Peterson, Cashman just clipped a million dollars from the remaining Yankee war chest, which is wandering perilously close to the MLB $197 million salary cap  luxury tax threshold. 

According to Joel Sherman, the Evils now have tied up about $179 million in contracts - just $18 mill below "Foodstamps" Hal's sacred gold ceiling. If the Yankees were to acquire Manny Machado or Yu Darvish - as fairy tale rumors insist - it would chew up at least another $15 million, forcing them to go cold turkey at the July 31 trade deadline and throughout September. A $10-$15-million cushion could last the season. But for a team that plans to contend and stay below the threshold, a $3 million pre-season window would be a joke.

We can only guess what Cashman views as a valid leftover budget, heading into 2018. If, say, he stays $10 million below the threshold, that would leave about $8 million to address three remaining areas of concern:

1. LOOGY. Right now, the Yankee LH bullpen option is Chasen Shreve, and while he's not the worst plate of clams ever served, he is no lights-out lefty. Cash must scour the scrap heap for a LHer, which has become an annual scavenger hunt. Over the years, killer lefties have been a constant sore spot. To add a few mere lottery tickets will probably cost $1- to $3 million.  

2. Back-up catcher. Preferably, a LH defensive-specialist. I think the Yankees like Austin Romine. Who doesn't? But a lefty bat would give Aaron Boone more flexibility, and a great pitch-blocker could end up with more career saves than Eddie Giacomin. It might force Gary Sanchez to up his game or watch 9th innings from the dugout. Cost: Another $1-$3 million - more, if we want a hitter.

3. A second Jace Peterson. Cash might chase another scrap-heap UI looking for a career resurrection. If I were a veteran 3B with good Triple A numbers, I'd be phoning Tampa every morning. Think about it: If you have a solid spring training, you might come north with the New York fucking Yankees, hold 3B through May and maybe get a ring, a World Series winner's share and a retirement of signing balls and waitress butts in airport Ramadas. Peterson cost us a mill. I'd take two or three. 

Surely, Cash will kick the tires on the big name free agents, and who knows? Maybe in spring training, somebody will bite on Ellsbury's contract. But for the rest of this winter, I gotta believe Coop will shop at flea markets and preserve his pennies for the salary dumps of late July. And by the way, I'm hoping for this. Until the Toddfather signs elsewhere, he remains the greatest threat to every viable strategy in the Yankiverse.