Ex Yankees legend Joe Torre Manager Blasts Hal Steinbrenner’s Cost-Cutting Plan — “They’re Building a Money Machine, Not a Team with the Yankees Spirit Anymore”
New York, NY – November 12, 2025
The storm surrounding the New York Yankees’ offseason just got louder. Following reports that owner Hal Steinbrenner has ordered the front office to slash payroll below $300 million for 2026, a former Yankees manager has spoken out — and his words have struck deep within the Bronx faithful.
In an interview with The Athletic on Tuesday night, the ex-skipper — who once led the Yankees to the postseason — publicly criticized Steinbrenner’s new financial policy, calling it a betrayal of the team’s legacy.
“The Yankees I knew were built on pride, not profit,” he said firmly. “They’re trying to build a money machine instead of a team that represents what the Yankees spirit used to be.”
His comments come as the organization faces growing backlash for tightening budgets despite generating over $728 million in revenue last year, the second-highest in Major League Baseball. Fans have accused Steinbrenner of prioritizing financial efficiency over championships, especially after the team’s early playoff exit to the Blue Jays reignited the frustration of a 16-year title drought.
The former manager didn’t hold back, arguing that the Yankees’ current direction mirrors a corporate enterprise more than a championship contender.
“When you walk into that clubhouse, you should feel history — Mantle, Jeter, Rivera, all those names meant something,” he continued. “Now, you walk in and it feels like a spreadsheet. It’s sad to say, but that fire — that edge — it’s fading.”
While he stopped short of naming Steinbrenner directly, his message was unmistakable: the Yankees have lost touch with the bold, win-at-all-costs identity once personified by Hal’s father, George Steinbrenner.
Several former players and local columnists have echoed the sentiment, suggesting that Hal’s cost-cutting mandate risks undermining morale inside the organization and alienating a fan base already weary of corporate decision-making.
As pressure mounts, Steinbrenner has yet to respond publicly. But one thing is clear — the debate over what the Yankees should stand for is no longer confined to talk shows or fan forums. It’s coming straight from those who once wore the pinstripes — and they’re not impressed with what they’re seeing.











