Will the Yankees lose Happ in the way they once lost Russell Martin?

Last night, prospective White House Chief of Staff Nick Ayers walked away from a deal with the Trump administration, because they wouldn't offer him more than a two-year deal. A tough loss for Individual #1. He might have to sign Chris Christie off the scrap heap. With Ayers, it was the same-old same-old: He signed with a PAC that offered longevity - as did Patrick Corbin, Nathan Eovaldi and - maybe soon - J.A. Happ.

According to George King of the Murdochian Post, the current "buzz" around the Major League winter meetings goes that the gold-plated Yankees don't want to offer Happ a three-year deal because - hey - he'll soon turn 36 and is already receiving AARP mailings. If any other team goes to three years, Happ will probably take it, and we'll face another Russell Martin meltdown.

What about Russell Martin? Sherman, set the Wayback to the winter of 2012-13, when Shallow Hal Steinbrenner has just blown a gasket. Look, he's in his office, throwing things at the unpaid Yale interns. "Jesus H. Montero!" he yells, "Does everyone around here think money grows on trees? The unmitigated gall of these players! It's time to hold the line! ENOUGH, I say! NO MORE!"

Somebody mentions Russell Martin, a serviceable Yankee catcher for the last two years. He's one of Brian Cashman's great scrapheap acquisitions, averaging 20 HRs per season ("Russell shows muscle!") for just $7.5 million. But in the winter of 2012-13, Hal issues an Official Edict forbidding the Yankees to sign two-year deals. 

Thus, Martin goes with Pittsburgh (for $6.5 million the first year), and the Yankees trade for slappy Chris Stewart, launching a season-long funeral train that includes Lyle Overbay, Vernon Wells, Travis Hafner and the ancient Ichiro - who signs, get this, a frickin' two-year-deal. 

Letting Martin walk - for less than he was already making - blows a hole in the Yankee catching department that lasts until Gary Sanchez arrives in late 2016, and even that is now debatable. Martin, at 35, was still catching for Toronto this year, and he outhit Gary (though, to be honest, they both sucked; Martin hit .194.) 

So, in the aftermath of Corbin and Eovaldi, here comes the bidding on the venerable JA Happ. The Yankees want him to take a two year deal, because at 39, Happ will probably crap the bed. It's all about cheapness, folks. Prince Hal - sitting on the largest pot of gold in U.S. sports - wants to be a leader in fiscal purity, an owner who is beloved by his fellow billionaires. 

Meanwhile, Boston targets the players it wants - David Robertson is said to be high on their list - and shells out the money to obtain them. The Yankees may let Robertson walk, then wheedle down some other bullpen lug nut and save a few dimes. Come September, in some big game, we'll see Robbie on the mound against us, while we trot out our Dopey Dildox, giggling that we're saving money. Oh, how we pulled one over on Boston!

Okay, I need to add a disclaimer: It's possible that Hal is holding the line on Happ so he can make a huge splash with Manny Machado or Bryce Harper. If so, I'll take back everything. Trouble is, I get the feeling that Hal likes being the guy willing to hobble the Yankees, rather than overspend on players, like the Dodgers and Redsocks. He'll be revered by mall market owners and Gammonites, as he holds the line against those "greedy" players and Scott Boras, the boogyman. And his daddy will make the Hall of Fame.

But if Hal sandbags the Yankees, he deserves the complete contempt of Yankee fans. And today, I'm running a spoon across our iron bars, raising a ruckus among the inmates: Let's never forget that, by refusing to boost payroll, Hal is lining his own pockets. And this winter, that is the question facing the Yankees. Does Hal prefer to count money rather than spend it? Is it 2019, or are we back in 2012? Have we identified the players we want? Or are we simply making the numbers fit? Are we the Yankees or the Kansas City Athletics? We will soon find out. Get ready to rumble.