New York Yankees Rumors: Payroll might hurt club's chances of landing another star, per report

Blake Snell, who remains available in free agency, is still on the New York Yankees’ radar. The left-hander was pursued by the Yankees throughout the offseason and was also offered a contract by them in January. The Cy Young Award winner didn’t accept the deal at the time.

The team is also keeping an eye on another free agent, Jordan Montgomery. However, according to a recent report by Brendan Kuty and Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, the Yankees’ ability to acquire free agents may be affected by their competitive balance tax situation. The Yankees' CBT payroll is reportedly above the league's highest luxury tax limit of $297 million. As a result, they will face a tax penalty of 110% on every additional dollar they spend.

Despite this, it seems the franchise still has an offer for Snell. The Yankees are aiming for the World Series and it doesn’t seem that paying additional money would stop them from making improvements to their roster.

The 31-year-old has won the Cy Young award twice and with the season just around the corner, he could prove to be a valuable addition to the team. Even if the Yankees don’t end up signing the lefty, there are chances that they can reunite with Montgomery.

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Yankees attempting to acquire Chicago White Sox ace through trade

Another player the Yankees are looking to add to their starting rotation is the Chicago White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease. The 28-year-old has been in trade rumors for quite some time and it seems quite certain that he will be traded, as reported by Patrick McAvoy of Sports Illustrated.

It is not yet known whether the trade will happen before the 2024 season starts or closer to the trade deadline. Cease can prove to be a good addition for the Yankees and can be pursued if the team skips on both Snell and Montgomery.