Sophisticated analytic personnel work for the Yankees to help identify significant factors when looking at prospective players. They can crunch the numbers for GM Brian Cashman involving the most important variables and identify the most cost-effective deal for the team to pursue.
Owners and GMs, like Cashman, must consider a number of variables before acquiring a new player, whether it be via trade or free agency. Clearly, a major consideration is cost, not only for small market teams who have restricted budgets but also for big market clubs like the Yanks. The luxury tax has, in particular, restricted spending by MLB teams.