MLB Rumors: Yankees, Mets Want To Clear Payroll Before Adding More Free Agents

New York’s Major League Baseball teams appear ready to do some selling — to an extent.

The Mets and the Yankees already made some huge free agent signings, with the Mets re-signing Yoenis Cespedes to a five-year, $110 million contract and the Yankees investing $86 million over four years in closer Aroldis Chapman and $13 million over one in Matt Holliday. And for the cash-strapped Mets especially, that means they’ll have to clear some payroll before making any more moves.

“It’s like buying a new house without selling your old one,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said recently, per the New York Post’s Joel Sherman. “Sometimes you get stuck in the transition, and it’s not a good place to be.”

The Mets reportedly are looking to move outfielder Jay Bruce, who has one year and $13 million left on his deal, but they’re getting more interest for Curtis Granderson, who is owed $15 million in 2017. The Yankees are in a similar boat, as the Bronx Bombers also reportedly want to trade one of their outfielders.

“The Yankees are in the same situation, according to agents who have spoken to the team about their free-agent clients,” Sherman wrote. “This is why the Yankees continue to gauge interest in Chase Headley (two years, $26 million) and Brett Gardner (two years, $25 million) as a way to cut a significant salary.”

The situation in Queens is more dire, as the Mets have kept their spending limit well below the luxury tax threshold since owner Fred Wilpon was a victim of convicted Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff. The Yankees simply are looking to avoid the luxury tax, but that likely won’t happen this season regardless.