The New York Yankees have long been baseball’s financial juggernaut, wielding a checkbook that could make even the most lavish franchises blush.

But in a twist that’s raising eyebrows across the diamond, the Bronx Bombers are no longer the undisputed kings of spending. The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers have been splashing cash with abandon, leaving the Yankees in their financial dust.

Still, the Yankees have a peculiar money move that’s turning heads—not for its brilliance, but for its sheer audacity.

In a stunning display of fiscal flexing, the Yankees are shelling out a jaw-dropping $43,785,714 this season to three players who aren’t even suiting up in pinstripes: DJ LeMahieu, Aaron Hicks, and Marcus Stroman. That’s right—nearly $44 million to watch these guys cheer from their couches.

Unlike other major sports, where contracts can sometimes vanish faster than a poorly thrown curveball, baseball deals are ironclad. Once the ink dries, the money is owed, no matter what.

This quirk of the game means the Yankees are still on the hook for these hefty payouts, even after parting ways with Hicks in a previous season and, more recently, cutting ties with LeMahieu and Stroman.

The most surprising move? Releasing Marcus Stroman just days after his last start. The pitcher, once a fiery presence on the mound, found himself unceremoniously shown the door.

Similarly, both Hicks and LeMahieu were far more productive before signing their latest contracts than after. It’s a stark reminder that even the savviest teams can swing and miss when it comes to big-money deals.

As a big-market behemoth, the Yankees have the luxury of absorbing these kinds of financial missteps. Few teams could shrug off a $43.8 million hit for players who aren’t contributing a single hit, pitch, or stolen base.

But even for a franchise with pockets as deep as the Yankees’, this isn’t pocket change. That money could’ve bolstered the roster, lured a new star, or invested in the farm system for the next generation of pinstriped heroes.

While the immediate sting of this financial fumble might not derail the Yankees’ postseason hopes, it’s a costly reminder that every dollar counts in the long game.

The Mets and Dodgers may be outspending them now, but the Yankees’ ability to navigate these mistakes will determine whether they can reclaim their throne as baseball’s financial and on-field powerhouse.