Winter Meetings: Yankees leaning towards holding onto prospects

The MLB Winter Meetings have been nothing short of a whirlwind...for most teams. The Yankees have stayed put, not making a deal for firearm reliever Aroldis Chapman (a deal now stalled due to a domestic dispute) and other big name pitchers. It looks like GM Brian Cashman does not want to give up the organization's top prospects such as Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and others. If the Yankees' prospects live up to their potential, the club has a bright future and would resemble the Core Four from the late 1990s and 2000s, starring Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettite. According to Yankees President Randy Levine, he believes the young talent in the system can be the next Yankees core. Levine told Brian Heyman "The philosophy is to build a team that's sustainable. Very rarely you get a Core 4 or those type ... The idea is to replicate that." When asked if the top prospects will be dealt this Winter, specifically Greg Bird, Severino, or Judge, Levine said "No I don't think those guys are going to be traded, altho you never say never to anybody." Levine later mentioned how big payrolls don't win World Series anymore, clearly stating what the Yankees gameplan is for the future.

Spoke to #Yankees president Randy Levine: "We can't rebuild here. ... We're trying to win every year and get younger and transition."

— Brian Heyman (@bheyman99) December 8, 2015

Levine: "I think it's been shown you don't need a $200 million payroll to win because I believe except for us in 2009, nobody's come close.. — Brian Heyman (@bheyman99) December 8, 2015

Levine: "The philosophy is to build a team that's sustainable. Very rarely you get a Core 4 or those type ... The idea is to replicate that.

— Brian Heyman (@bheyman99) December 8, 2015

I asked Levine re trading Severino, Judge, Bird: "No I don't think those guys are going to be traded, altho you never say never to anybody" — Brian Heyman (@bheyman99) December 8, 2015

This is not to say that any of the young players are completely off of the table. If the right deal presents itself, any player is fair game to be traded. However, if the Yankees do keep their word and hold on to their young assets, they will save money, and possibly produce a product that can be very competitive for a decade. This change in philosophy might just be what the Yankees need to become perennial World Series favorites like they used to be oh-so-long ago.