Legendary former Yankees manager Joe Torre criticizes Hal Steinbrenner's cost-cutting plans while allowing a serious $40 million payroll waste

New York, New York – November 23, 2025

In a rare and pointed public rebuke, Yankees legend and Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre has openly criticized team owner Hal Steinbrenner’s renewed push to slash payroll ahead of the 2026 season — calling the plan “tone-deaf” while spotlighting what he described as “a $40 million waste that nobody wants to talk about.”

Torre, who managed the Yankees to four World Series championships from 1996 to 2000, voiced his frustration during an appearance on ESPN Radio, stating bluntly:
“You can’t tell fans you’re tightening the belt while paying for players who don’t contribute. That’s not fiscal responsibility. That’s just poor roster management.”

The former skipper’s comments come as Steinbrenner faces mounting criticism over his reported directive to cut the club’s payroll below $300 million for 2026. The Yankees currently sit at an estimated $304 million for 2025, already deep into luxury tax territory. Yet much of that money, Torre argues, is tied up in aging or underperforming contracts — most notably Giancarlo Stanton’s $32 million annual salary and DJ LeMahieu’s $15 million deal, both of whom contributed below-replacement-level play in 2025.

“What message are you sending,” Torre asked, “when you pinch pennies on new blood like Juan Soto or Cody Bellinger but have $40 million tied up in players who can’t stay on the field or help you win?”

While Torre stopped short of naming specific players, insiders and fans alike took clear note. Stanton missed 40+ games with injuries while posting a sub-.240 average and negative WAR. LeMahieu, plagued by hip and toe issues, hit just .210 and logged fewer than 60 games.

Yankees president Randy Levine responded to Torre’s remarks by reiterating the organization’s commitment to “spending wisely, not recklessly,” and emphasized the team’s belief in developing young, cost-effective talent. Still, as the Yankees pursue marquee free agents like Soto and Kyle Tucker, fans are growing increasingly skeptical of the team’s priorities — especially with cornerstone ace Gerrit Cole agreeing to a pay cut for the sake of roster flexibility.

Torre, now 85, concluded his message with a familiar refrain:
“The Yankees don’t just play for October. We play to win it all. And you don’t win it all by trimming talent while burning cash.”

With the offseason heating up and pressure mounting in the Bronx, the comments from one of the franchise’s most iconic voices may prove impossible to ignore.