Why Yankees’ Aaron Judge, Luis Severino aren’t baseball’s best bargains

The 2018 New York Yankees will head into the playoffs as an American League wild card, thanks to the wheeling and dealing by general manager Brian Cashman, who has real bargains in right fielder Aaron Judge and right-hander Luis Severino. The same cannot be said for outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

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Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has a World Series contender on his hands for the 2018 MLB season, and he built this year’s club while working within the framework of a budget.

Managing partner Hal Steinbrenner has insisted the Yankees stay under the $197 million luxury tax threshold this season.

Cashman accomplished that, in part because some of his best players are the ones making the least amount of money.

The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo ranked baseball’s biggest value players to see which clubs are getting the most bang for their buck.

Among position players, right fielder Aaron Judge ranked eighth:

8. Aaron Judge, RF, Yankees — Judge has had an injury-filled season, breaking his wrist and recently returning after a two-month layoff. Yet he’s hit 26 homers with 61 RBIs and has a .925 OPS. He’s also a very good right fielder with an excellent arm. He made $622,000 this season.

Ahead of Judge, according to Cafardo, are:

1. Alex Bregman, 3B, Astros: $599K
2. Trevor Story, SS, Rockies: $555K
3. Javier Baez, 2B, Cubs: $657K
4. Francisco Lindor, SS, Indians: $622K
5. Mitch Haniger, OF, Mariners: $538K
6. Andrew Benintendi, OF, Red Sox: $621K
7. Jesus Aguilar, 1B, Brewers: $557K

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Among pitchers, right-hander Luis Severino ranked fourth, according to Cafardo:

4. Luis Severino, RHP, Yankees — Well, he was on his way to a Cy Young until he suffered a little bump in the road, but he will get plenty of votes for the AL award. Severino is 18-8 with a 3.38 ERA. The Yankees paid him $605,000 to be their No. 1 pitcher.

Ahead of Severino, according to Cafardo, are:

1. Blake Snell, LHP, Rays: $558K
2. Edwin Diaz, RHP, Mariners: $571K
3. Aaron Nola, RHP, Phillies: $573K

Of course, the Yankees have not been afraid to spend big in past seasons, and that’s left the club with one of the worst values among position players in baseball, according to Cafardo:

6. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF, Yankees — The Yankees paid the 35-year-old over $21 million, and he didn’t play a game.

Ahead of Ellsbury among overpaid position players, according to Cafardo, are:

1. Chris Davis, 1B, Orioles: $23 million
2. Albert Pujols, 1B, Angels: $27 million
3. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Padres: $21 million
4. Russell Martin, C, Blue Jays: $20 million
5. Miguel Cabrera, DH/1B, Tigers: $30 million

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.