Virtually nothing?  Won 4 out of the last 10 WS titles.  Played for the WS title 6 out of the last 10 years. They have won the AL pennant 3 of the last 6 years. Won their division 8 straight years. Â
Are you the master of skimming posts and not actually reading them? Would you like to do your own homework, or shall I do it for you? The last time the Yankees won the World Series was...what year? Anyone? Bueller? And how many players on that roster came up through the Yankees system? Not big money free agents? Anyone? And how many players on that active roster were drafted by the Yankees and not hired guns? Anyone?Â
(crickets and tumbleweed insert here)
EVERY team that has a shot goes out and picks up the occasional player. Every team. Period. Please check your information again - research the last year that the Yankees won the World Series and what players made up those rosters. And, when you're done - please let me know how many titles the Yankees have won since really opening their wallets versus grooming their own? I'll give you that answer - zero. Nada. Zilch. 8 division titles? Yippie. Who was the team that lost the World Series in 1979? Who won the AL West in 1984? Who cares?
That 1999/2000 team sure was filled with super stars. Joe Girardi, Jeff Manto, Chad Curtis...few! Man. I'll do some of this for you. Starting line up those years...Â
Jorge Posada? Yankee product - drafted by NYY in 1990
Derek Jeter? Yankee product - drafted by NYY in 1996
Bernie Williams? Yankee product - amateur free agent, signed 1985
Ricky Ledee? Yankee product - drafted in 1990
Shane Spencer? Yankee product - drafted in 1990
Jim Leyritz? Yankee product, amateur free agent, signed 1985
D'Angelo Jimenez? Yankee product, amateur free agent, signed 1994
Alfonso Soriano? Yankee product, amateur free agent, signed 1998
Mike Figga? Yankee product, drafted 1989
Andy Pettitte? Yankee product, amateur free agent, signed 1991
Orlando Hernandez? Yankee product, amateur free agent, signed 1998
Mariano Rivera? Yankee product, amateur free agent, signed 1990
Ramiro Mendoza? Yankee product, amateur free agent, signed 1991
Jay Tessmer? Yankee product, drafted 1995
Mike Buddie? Yankee product, drafted 1992
25 man active roster - 16 of those players were drafted by the Yankees or signed as rookies. Four more players had been with te Yankees for at least four years. That leaves 5 spots for players that hadn't been around a while...aka "those big market free agents." Two "big names" on that roster? Roger Clemens and David Cone. Shall I list off the "big names" on the Braves that year that didn't start their careers with the Braves when the Yanks won in '99? Or maybe the Mets from '00? It's more than the Yankees.
Again - fact: the Yankees haven't won anything from 2000 when a decision was made that they were better off with names versus prospects. If you look at any Yankee 25 man roster from 2000 on, you'll find MAYBE 6 players that the Yankees drafted. And that's being kind.
So for all of the "hired guns"...it's netted them exactly squat. Smashing the piggy bank for Damon, Sheff, Giambi, ARod, Johnson, etc hasn't exactly brought them to the promised land. What has it gotten them? Those sparkling 8 division titles, 2 World Series losses to two expansion teams, two LCS losses to the Angels and the Red Sox. Yep, that Cashman has it easy.
Actually - that 2000 team did have Ted Lilly. I guess everyone should have seen that title coming...

Just because a team spends, doesn't mean that they win. That said, you HAVE to spend a certain amount to compete. If you don't...that's no one else's fault than that team.