Part 4/9:
A palpable theme emerged: the Yankees' reluctance to spend, especially in situations where high-caliber players are concerned. The notion that the Yankees could not afford to retain reliever Chasen Shreve for 7.75 million dollars raised eyebrows. One could argue that such a sum is paltry for a franchise that has historically spent freely to acquire talent. Steinbrenner's hesitance to pay above the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT), which penalizes larger market teams, suggests a new, cautious approach that starkly contrasts with the bold strategies of past Yankees leadership under George Steinbrenner.