The 2014 New York Yankees season was the 112th season for the New York Yankees franchise. The Yankees began the season on April 1 at Minute Maid Park against the Houston Astros, and finished on September 28 at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. They finished in second place in the American League East with an 84–78 record, which was their worst record since 1992. The Yankees failed to make the playoffs for the second year in a row, and for the third time in twenty years.
The 2014 season is also notable for being team captain Derek Jeter's final season as a professional baseball player, also, beginning that year the team's radio broadcasts switched stations, being now aired via WFAN 660 AM and its FM simulcast WFAN-FM, which assumed the duty of being the new flagship radio stations for the Yankees Radio Network.
Off-season transactions
On October 9, 2013, the Yankees agreed to a new contract with free agent manager Joe Girardi for four years and $16 million. At the time, the contract was the second most expensive contract for a manager behind Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. On November 1, the Yankees announced they made a new deal with shortstop Derek Jeter for one year and $12 million over the original $9.5 million option in the original deal signed in 2010. Three weeks later, on November 18, the club announced they had reached a deal with free agent utility infielder Brendan Ryan originally reported to be for one year and worth $1 million. However, on December 2, the club and Ryan both announced that the deal was for two years and $5 million with a mutual option for 2016. The same day, the Yankees non-tendered utility infielder Jayson Nix, third baseman David Adams and pitcher Matt Daley, who all became free agents. On December 3, the Yankees announced that the first of their high-profile signings, former Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann had made a five-year, $85 million deal official. The deal also had a vesting option for a sixth year worth $15 million. Just hours prior to the deal, the club traded catcher Chris Stewart to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later. Just two days later, the Yankees held a press conference for the signing of McCann, who would wear number 34 in honor of Eric O'Flaherty and Derek Lowe, former teammates on the Braves.
On December 3, just hours after the McCann signing was made official, it was reported that the Yankees had agreed to a deal with former Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury for seven years and $153 million. The deal, which contained an option for 2021, was announced on December 7, after Ellsbury passed a physical. A press conference to unveil Ellsbury was held planned on December 13. On December 4, the Yankees announced they had reached a deal with free agent utility player Kelly Johnson for one year and $3 million. On December 6, former Yankee and free agent Robinson Canó accepted a ten-year, $240 million deal with the Seattle Mariners with a full no-trade clause. The deal to leave the Yankees was the third largest in big league history, behind Alex Rodriguez's deals with the Yankees in 2007 and the Texas Rangers in 2000 and tied Albert Pujols's $240 million deal with the Angels. Later that day, Curtis Granderson, a member of the club from 2010–2013, was announced to join the New York Mets on a four-year, $60 million deal.
While Cano and Granderson left the Yankees on December 6, the Yankees also made two signings on that date; the team reached a one-year, $16 million deal with pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, which became official the following day. Also on December 6, the Yankees reached an agreement to sign free agent outfielder Carlos Beltrán on a three-year, $45 million deal. On December 13, the Yankees introduced Ellsbury at a press conference, adorning the number 22. Four days later, the Yankees announced a pair of signings, bringing infielder Brian Roberts to the Bronx on a one-year, $2 million deal, along with reliever Matt Thornton on a two-year, $7.5 million contract. On December 19, the Yankees contract with Beltran became official, and the Yankees introduced him to the public at a press conference the next day. In order to make room on the roster, Brett Marshall was designated for assignment on December 19, and claimed by the Chicago Cubs off waivers four days later. On January 10, 2014, the Yankees made the Thornton signing official, and in order to clear room on the roster, the Yankees designated Vernon Wells for assignment. On January 11, a panel of three, led by Major League Baseball arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, announced that the group had decided 2–1 to reduce the suspension on Alex Rodriguez from 211 games to 162 games and the postseason. The next day, the Yankees signed infielder Scott Sizemore to a minor league deal, with an invitation to Spring training. On January 14, the Yankees announced in a press release that the deal with Brian Roberts was made official, taking Alex Rodriguez's vacated space on the 40-man roster.
On January 22, 2014, it was announced that the Yankees had agreed to a deal with free agent/Rakuten Golden Eagles starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. The seven-year, $155 million deal which contains an opt-out clause at the 2017–2018 offseason was made official the same day, as the Yankees chose to not have Tanaka take a physical examination. In order to make room on the roster, left-handed pitcher David Huff was designated for assignment. On January 24, the San Francisco Giants announced that they had acquired Huff off waivers for cash considerations. On February 11, the Yankees held a press conference for Tanaka, in front of over 200 members of the media, including reporters from Japan, marking the biggest press conference for the Yankees since the one held for Hideki Matsui in 2003. A day later, Derek Jeter announced on his Facebook page that he would retire after the 2014 season. At a press conference held on February 19, Jeter mentioned that the decision was not about the injury he sustained in the 2012 American League Championship Series but that he felt it was time to move on.
After the beginning of spring training on February 14, the Yankees reportedly signed free agent relief pitcher Andrew Bailey to a minor league deal on February 22. On February 24, the Yankees announced that they had extended outfielder Brett Gardner to a 4-year, $52 million deal, which would keep him on the Yankees until 2018 with a club option for 2019.
The Yankees began the 2014 season without longtime starting pitcher Andy Pettitte and longtime closer Mariano Rivera, each of whom retired following the 2013 season.
Subtractions Additions Players RHP Mariano Rivera (retired) LHP Andy Pettitte (retired) RHP Phil Hughes (signed with Twins) C Chris Stewart (trade with Pirates) 1B/RF Lyle Overbay (signed with Brewers) IF Eduardo Núñez (trade with Twins) IF Robinson Canó (signed with Mariners) IF Jayson Nix (signed with Rays) OF Curtis Granderson (signed with Mets) OF Vernon Wells (released) IF Mark Reynolds (signed with Brewers) RHP Joba Chamberlain (signed with Tigers) IF Kevin Youkilis (signed with Golden Eagles) RHP Brett Marshall (waiver claim by Cubs) LHP David Huff (waiver claim by Giants) LHP Boone Logan (signed with Rockies) IF David Adams (signed with Indians) OF Jacoby Ellsbury (free agent) IF Brian Roberts (free agent) OF Carlos Beltrán (free agent) RHP Masahiro Tanaka (free agent) LHP Matt Thornton (free agent) C Brian McCann (free agent) RHP Andrew Bailey (free agent) IF Scott Sizemore (free agent) IF Kelly Johnson (free agent) Personnel Bullpen coach Mike Harkey Bullpen coach Gary Tuck
Regular season The Yankees unexpectedly designated Eduardo Núñez for assignment in order to call up Yangervis Solarte on April 1, only hours before the Yankees would begin their season at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros. The newly acquired pitcher from Japan, Masahiro Tanaka made his Major League debut and Yankees debut on April 4 against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.
Hosting the Boston Red Sox on April 10, pitcher Michael Pineda earned a win for the Yankees over their rivals. However, the game sparked a controversy as analysts were quick to discover a foreign substance, most likely pinetar, on Pineda's neck. The Red Sox chose not to appeal it but Major League Baseball agreed to talk to the Yankees organization about it. In Pineda's defense, the pitcher claimed he had dirt on his hand. The substance, which was discovered in the third inning, disappeared by the fifth inning.
On April 17, pitcher CC Sabathia earned a win on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays 10–2; during the game, Sabathia was on the mound for the third time witnessing a triple play as Sean Rodriguez bounced a ball to Yangervis Solarte (playing third base). The play was turned 5–4–3.
A few days later, during a terrible outing against the Rays, Iván Nova felt discomfort in his right arm. Nova would later be confirmed to be undergoing successful season-ending surgery.
On April 23, Michael Pineda started another game against the Red Sox. This game was away at Fenway Park. Not unlike the start against the Boston Red Sox on April 10, Pineda had another foreign substance on his body. Shockingly, it was a large amount of the substance on his neck. This occurred in the second inning, as the Red Sox manager John Farrell decided to appeal against the pitcher. As a result, umpire Gerry Davis examined the substance on Michael Pineda's neck. The substance was indeed pine tar, an illegal foreign substance. Thus, Davis immediately ejected Michael Pineda from the game and Pineda was put on a 10-game suspension. The controversy triggered analysts to discuss the possibility of Major League Baseball changing the rules and making a small amount of pine tar available for pitchers to use in very cold weathers to gain a grip on the ball. However, the substance would not be allowed in decent weather. Analysts believe the rule, if looked into, could be made effective as of the 2015 season. Pineda took responsibility for cheating, however, and claimed that he would learn from his mistake.
On May 20 in a 1–6 loss to the Chicago Cubs, Masahiro Tanaka picked up his first regular season loss in professional baseball since 2012. He went 34–0 during this streak.
Through June 18, the Yankees led the majors with a 20–11 record in games decided by two runs or fewer.
The team has been plagued by lack of offense.
A crisis surrounding CC Sabathia struck the Yankees within the first few days of July. Sabathia, who was rumored to be progressing greatly in his rehab stint in the minors (coming back from an injury suffered in the month of May), unexpectedly awoke one morning to find his knee swollen quite seriously. As a result, Sabathia is scheduled to meet Dr. James Andrews on July 14. Manager Joe Girardi confirmed that Sabathia's season is most likely over. After the All Star Game, Sabathia's season was confirmed to be over as he would be undergoing knee surgery performed by the Los Angeles Dodgers's physician and would not return until 2015.
In early July, Alfonso Soriano was designated for assignment and later released by the Yankees after the struggling outfielder and designated hitter failed to break out of his hitting slump. Soriano proved to spend almost all of his part of the season failing to produce both offensively and defensively. A few days before, the highly perceived Yangervis Solarte was also optioned back to the Minors due to his obtained confidence issues that resulted because of an offensive slump. He was recalled to the Majors not long after.
On July 6, the Yankees acquired right handed pitcher Brandon McCarthy from the Arizona Diamondbacks for left handed pitcher Vidal Nuño.
On July 3, Derek Jeter, Masahiro Tanaka, and Dellin Betances were all named American League All-Stars. Koji Uehara of the Boston Red Sox was selected to replace Tanaka on the All Star roster.