LAS VEGAS — When the Yankees vacated the winter meetings on Thursday morning, they headed for the airport and flights to New York without having stuffed two relievers into their baggage.
Because they traded for James Paxton before the meetings opened last weekend and agreed with J.A. Happ on a two-year contract — worth $34 million with a $17 million option for 2021 based on games started that could push the deal to three years and $51 million — during the meat-market flesh swap, the Yankees’ offseason hasn’t been dormant.
However, it does leave the Yankees heading into the holidays searching for those two relievers and an infielder, who in a perfect world could play short until Didi Gregorius returns from Tommy John surgery and then shift into a utility role.