MLB: 2013-2014 Off-season - Pre-season

smackbunnybaby · 05-11-2013 12:42pm #1

Well it's getting to that time of year.

Qualifying Offers being offered....

Will the Yankees keep Cano? As well as Granderson and Kuroda.

Bronson Arroyo not being offered one and expecting top dollar from elsewhere?!?

Red Sox make offer to Ellsbury, Napoli, and Drew (surprised).

Will Miami sign some stars for Stanton? Surely the wage bill allows/

WHAT WILL THE CUBS DO!!!!

Waitsian · 05-11-2013 4:19pm

It seems the Jays are letting Josh Johnson walk - no qualifying offer. He'd be a decent pick-up for a National league team.

I wonder where Rajai Davis will end up? Incredible speed, but wants an everyday job and he's never proven he can hit both lefties and righties consistently.

The Jays need a 2nd baseman, a catcher and at least one SP.

jack presley · 05-11-2013 4:33pm

Where would I start with the Mets shopping list?

- shortstop
- 2 x outfielders
- which mediocre 1st base to keep and which one to trade (with the one who is traded of course turning into Albert Pujols)
- Veteran starting pitcher
- possibly a 2nd baseman too.
- relievers always needed too.

Waitsian · 05-11-2013 5:23pm

jack presley wrote: »

Where would I start with the Mets shopping list?

You'd have been better off listing what the Mets don't need!

8-10 · 05-11-2013 7:55pm

jack presley wrote: »

- Veteran starting pitcher.

Would you take Bartolo Colon out of interest?

jack presley · 05-11-2013 10:07pm

8-10 wrote: »

Would you take Bartolo Colon out of interest?

I don't know to be honest? What will he earn next year? The Mets plan the past couple of years has been to invite loads of 'past it' veterans to Spring Training on minor league deals then whichever one is left standing at the end of March gets a job.

So if Colon is looking for a big salary, he won't get it from the Mets.

8-10 · 05-11-2013 10:18pm

jack presley wrote: »

I don't know to be honest? What will he earn next year? The Mets plan the past couple of years has been to invite loads of 'past it' veterans to Spring Training on minor league deals then whichever one is left standing at the end of March gets a job.

So if Colon is looking for a big salary, he won't get it from the Mets.

He just sprung to mind when you said veteran starter as I know he'll be available. I think it's an interesting one as he's hard to project numbers for in 2014 because of his age, this year has probably priced him out anyway as you've said

MoyVilla9 · 09-11-2013 10:19pm

smackbunnybaby wrote: »

Will the Yankees keep Cano? As well as Granderson and Kuroda.

Who will out bid the Yankees? Is anyone silly enough to give 10 year deals after the disasters with A-Rod and Pujols?

smackbunnybaby · 11-11-2013 9:37am

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

Who will out bid the Yankees? Is anyone silly enough to give 10 year deals after the disasters with A-Rod and Pujols?

I don't know who will outbid the Yankees.
But there are plenty of teams with money, Angels, Dodgers, possibly Miami.

jack presley · 11-11-2013 7:50pm

smackbunnybaby wrote: »

I don't know who will outbid the Yankees.
But there are plenty of teams with money, Angels, Dodgers, possibly Miami.

Well their owner has a spare $32 million which I'm sure their fans hope (optimistically) he invests in the team

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/06/marlins-owner-jeffrey-loria-sold-a-painting-for-32-million/

rockonollie · 12-11-2013 6:32pm

smackbunnybaby wrote: »

Well it's getting to that time of year.

Bronson Arroyo not being offered one and expecting top dollar from elsewhere?!?

Arroyo will get a contract somewhere......possibly even in Cincinnati.....but no team would ever give him $14m for 1 year.

The Reds are being very cautious with their money.....and overpaying Arroyo by $6-$10m would be a big hit. If they offload Phillips' contract, they will probably make an attempt to resign choo, even with the $15-$20 million per year price-tag.

jack presley · 12-11-2013 8:27pm

Marlon Byrd to the Phillies apparently, $16m, 2 years. A good pickup if he plays like he did this year but will he?

rockonollie · 12-11-2013 8:29pm

The first relatively decent OF signing of the off-season.......will be interesting in the winter meetings to see how much the biogenisis scandal will affect Nelson Cruz's asking price.

jack presley · 12-11-2013 8:32pm

rockonollie wrote: »

The first relatively decent OF signing of the off-season.......will be interesting in the winter meetings to see how much the biogenisis scandal will affect Nelson Cruz's asking price.

I think GMs and teams in general put the blinkers on when it comes to PEDs. What you've done in the past seems to be forgotten. It's what you can do for us in the future that's all they seem to think of. Look at the aforementioned Marlon Byrd. He got a deal, although a cheap one, off the Mets despite his previous ban for PEDs.

rockonollie · 12-11-2013 8:36pm

jack presley wrote: »

I think GMs and teams in general put the blinkers on when it comes to PEDs. What you've done in the past seems to be forgotten. It's what you can do for us in the future that's all they seem to think of. Look at the aforementioned Marlon Byrd. He got a deal, although a cheap one, off the Mets despite his previous ban for PEDs.

True.....I was thinking more that it could be used as leverage in contract talks.....there are plenty of OF on the market and a team could get Cruz at a bargain price if he's still unsigned in the new year.

MoyVilla9 · 13-11-2013 9:41am

jack presley wrote: »

He got a deal, although a cheap one, off the Mets despite his previous ban for PEDs.

That's the thing. The deal will be a much cheaper one, at least in terms of years, than if a PED ban never had happened. Melky Cabrera would surely have got better than 2 years/$16 million.

rockonollie · 19-11-2013 9:44pm

Reds sign Skip Schumaker......solid start to the off-season for them. Their clubhouse was a major issue last season with a lack of veteran leadership. Schumaker will fill that void.

On top of that, he fills the utility bench player need as well as offering insurance in CF or at 2B if the Reds trade Phillips, fail to re-sign Choo or Hamilton isn't ready to play everyday.

MoyVilla9 · 21-11-2013 12:05pm

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10008050/detroit-tigers-agree-trade-prince-fielder-texas-rangers-ian-kinsler

Fielder to Texas for Kinsler and $30 Million.
Seems to me that the Tigers got the better of that deal considering that Fielder has already shown a big drop off in power.

8-10 · 21-11-2013 4:20pm

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10008050/detroit-tigers-agree-trade-prince-fielder-texas-rangers-ian-kinsler

Fielder to Texas for Kinsler and $30 Million.
Seems to me that the Tigers got the better of that deal considering that Fielder has already shown a big drop off in power.

I'm not so sure about that. Fielder is an upgrade on Moreland who was poor after injury this year. Profar now has an everyday spot.

The key for Detroit though is that the trade should allow them to keep Scherzer for longer.

I actually think it's one of those trades where everybody seems to win. Except Moreland.

rockonollie · 21-11-2013 4:21pm

8-10 wrote: »

I'm not so sure about that. Fielder is an upgrade on Moreland who was poor after injury this year. Profar now has an everyday spot.

The key for Detroit though is that the trade should allow them to keep Scherzer for longer.

I actually think it's one of those trades where everybody seems to win. Except Moreland.

Allows them to keep Scherzer and frees up cash to try and lock up Cabrera too.

jack presley · 21-11-2013 10:13pm

http://thekevinburkeproject.com/2013/11/rangers-send-email-to-season-ticket-holders-with-traded-ian-kinslers-picture-on-promo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rangers-send-email-to-season-ticket-holders-with-traded-ian-kinslers-picture-on-promo

Almost as good as the Mets giving away Marlon Byrd t=shirts on the day he was traded.

Coeus · 22-11-2013 1:17am

MoyVilla9 wrote: »

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10008050/detroit-tigers-agree-trade-prince-fielder-texas-rangers-ian-kinsler

Fielder to Texas for Kinsler and $30 Million.
Seems to me that the Tigers got the better of that deal considering that Fielder has already shown a big drop off in power.

Massive trade!! I think this a good trade for both sides that fulfils needs and allows new talent to emerge and play every day.

Looking at the $$$ side of this trade the Rangers will effectively pay $20M a year for 7 years for Fielder. Would they get a left handed power bat for that price, Cano is gonna want more money and years. Fielder's numbers should improve, playing in a hitters park that friendly to lefties and where the summers hot. Easy to see why he approved the trade but his his mind in the game...

On the flip-side, the Tigers are effectively paying $23M a season for 4 years of Kinsler. His numbers may take a hit playing in a pitchers park, with colder weather and on a team that haven't run so much in recent years but he is a gamer as long as he stays off the DL. As mentioned the Tigers get payroll flexibility down the line for Miggy and/or Scherzer.

It could be a few seasons before we ultimately see who gets the best of this deal...

smackbunnybaby · 22-11-2013 10:58am

The additional value for the Rangers is now they have gotten rid of Kinsler from 2B, they get to play hot prospect Jurrickson Profar everyday!

This will be great for him! The previous infield of Kinsler, Andrus and Beltre wasn't going to be broken up.

krustydoyle · 24-11-2013 1:10am

Yankees sign Catcher Brian McCann to a 5yr $85 million deal.
Good pick up for them, decent power but more importantly balance behind the plate.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/10026267/brian-mccann-agrees-five-year-85-million-deal-new-york-yankees

Coeus · 24-11-2013 2:29am

krustydoyle wrote: »

Yankees sign Catcher Brian McCann to a 5yr $85 million deal.
Good pick up for them, decent power but more importantly balance behind the plate.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/10026267/brian-mccann-agrees-five-year-85-million-deal-new-york-yankees

Yep, big upgrade on the guys they had behind the plate last season. His numbers should improve with that inviting right field porch...

jack presley · 24-11-2013 11:05am

God help anyone who shows the slightest bit of happiness after scoring a HR against the Yankees next season. Officer Brian McCann will be on their case.

Waitsian · 24-11-2013 2:17pm

jack presley wrote: »

God help anyone who shows the slightest bit of happiness after scoring a HR against the Yankees next season. Officer Brian McCann will be on their case.

I look forward to he and Bautista 'having words'.

krustydoyle · 24-11-2013 7:48pm

Jhonny Peralta signs with the Cardinals, 4yr deal for around $52

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10030133/jhonny-peralta-st-louis-cardinals-agree-4-year-52-million-deal

To be honest i didn't see him ending up St Louis and i'm not sure this is a good move for him.

smackbunnybaby · 25-11-2013 10:41am

krustydoyle wrote: »

Jhonny Peralta signs with the Cardinals, 4yr deal for around $52

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10030133/jhonny-peralta-st-louis-cardinals-agree-4-year-52-million-deal

To be honest i didn't see him ending up St Louis and i'm not sure this is a good move for him.

I'm happy about this deal because it means we don't have to endure a whole off season of the Cards sniffing about Tulo!

smackbunnybaby · 04-12-2013 9:51am

Ellsbury to the Yankees!
Fister to Washington!
Nathan to Detroit!

AND the coup of the year I'd say, Dexter Fowler to Astros with Lyles and Barnes going the other way!

Meanwhile, the Mariners are muscling in on Cano and the Yankees are surely running out of cash what with Ellsbury and McCann tied down and the immediate need to bolster the rotation!

Benimar · 04-12-2013 10:48am

smackbunnybaby wrote: »

Ellsbury to the Yankees!
Fister to Washington!
Nathan to Detroit!

AND the coup of the year I'd say, Dexter Fowler to Astros with Lyles and Barnes going the other way!

Meanwhile, the Mariners are muscling in on Cano and the Yankees are surely running out of cash what with Ellsbury and McCann tied down and the immediate need to bolster the rotation!

That I did not see coming! So much for the Yankees trying to come in under the cap this year! Unless they know something we don't (Cough...ARod suspension..Cough!)

jack presley · 04-12-2013 5:08pm

That's some rotation now in Washington.

Strasburg
Zimmerman
Gonzalez
Fister

krustydoyle · 04-12-2013 5:47pm

As a yankee fan i love the move for Ellsbury.
Hes a good player and brings a bit of speed to
the line up. His avg's are alright but i think he suits
the dynamics of the team.

The Cano situation is still very odd. The money isn't there for the yankees to re sign him
Does he go to the Mariners? Im a little surprised the market is so small for him.

smackbunnybaby · 04-12-2013 5:53pm

The Yankees still seem like they have a lot to do though.

They need 2nd and 3rd and rotation and bullpen!

krustydoyle · 04-12-2013 5:58pm

smackbunnybaby wrote: »

The Yankees still seem like they have a lot to do though.

They need 2nd and 3rd and rotation and bullpen!

They have about $37 million to spend so what do they get for that?

They only have 2 starters (Sabathia, Nova)
The NPB target Tanaka is still an option but that posting situation isn't gonna be resolved anytime soon.

Its just hard to see them staying under this $189 million target they have.

Coeus · 04-12-2013 6:09pm

jack presley wrote: »

That's some rotation now in Washington.

Strasburg
Zimmerman
Gonzalez
Fister

Fister should be better than Haren was last season. They have some guys (Deweiler/Roark/Jordan) who they can plug in as a number 5. But can they hit, no way a guy with Strasburgs numbers and talent should be finishing a season with a losing record...

jack presley · 04-12-2013 10:38pm

Granderson to the Mets apparently. Not official but some tweets doing the rounds in the last few minutes saying it's a done deal.

I'm happy with it if it is true. Definitely a step up from last year's outfield (if he can stay healthy!)

MilanPan!c · 05-12-2013 11:51am

krustydoyle wrote: »

As a yankee fan i love the move for Ellsbury.
Hes a good player and brings a bit of speed to
the line up. His avg's are alright but i think he suits
the dynamics of the team.

The Cano situation is still very odd. The money isn't there for the yankees to re sign him
Does he go to the Mariners? Im a little surprised the market is so small for him.

As a Red sox fan I love the fact that you guys are saddled with 150M in spend for a player that has probably peaked - and is injury prone... there's no way he's worth what was spent, at all, which is why you see very little in the way of despair from the Sox camp...

A very silly move by the Yankees.

krustydoyle · 05-12-2013 2:19pm

MilanPan!c wrote: »

As a Red sox fan I love the fact that you guys are saddled with 150M in spend for a player that has probably peaked - and is injury prone... there's no way he's worth what was spent, at all, which is why you see very little in the way of despair from the Sox camp...

A very silly move by the Yankees.

Ah we all know that they overpaid but once he stays healthy then he'll be productive in that line up. Hes a real upgrade to the outfield.

Its the not knowing how hes going to work out in a few years but the yankees never worry about that stuff.

MilanPan!c · 05-12-2013 2:22pm

krustydoyle wrote: »

Ah we all know that they overpaid but once he stays healthy then he'll be productive in that line up. Hes a real upgrade to the outfield.

Its the not knowing how hes going to work out in a few years but the yankees never worry about that stuff.

They don't. That's true.

And check out how many games he played the last few years if you're interested in his health.

One word: fragile.

jack presley · 05-12-2013 2:33pm

Big teams in major markets don't get away with signing reliable players who will play 155-160 games year in year out but are only average at best.

So the Yankees have to take chances on players with big up sides but with a bad injury history. And it's not like they don't have the money if he does turn out to be fragile.

MilanPan!c · 05-12-2013 3:34pm

jack presley wrote: »

Big teams in major markets don't get away with signing reliable players who will play 155-160 games year in year out but are only average at best.

So the Yankees have to take chances on players with big up sides but with a bad injury history. And it's not like they don't have the money if he does turn out to be fragile.

Well that's obviously not true.

Many of the teams that beat up on the Yankees last year didn't take those chances. One was the Red Sox who now refuse long expensive deals and would rather take reasonible chances.

Ellsbury MAY work out, but that's not in any way a justification for a dodgy strategy.

jack presley · 05-12-2013 4:10pm

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Well that's obviously not true.

Many of the teams that beat up on the Yankees last year didn't take those chances. One was the Red Sox who now refuse long expensive deals and would rather take reasonible chances.

Ellsbury MAY work out, but that's not in any way a justification for a dodgy strategy.

The Yankees aren't the same as other teams though. The Yankees HAVE to have big name players. Even though the Rays for example are a better team, if the Yankees had that roster, there'd be war in the NY press and Yankee stadium would be empty.

They play by different standards. Having big name players is much more important to them than it is to the Oriols or Blue Jays.

The Yankees seem quite happy to overpay a player on the 75/25 chance that he's successful for a few years and when he's rubbish in year 5 of the deal and they're still paying him $20m, they'll worry about that then.

MilanPan!c · 05-12-2013 4:32pm

jack presley wrote: »

The Yankees aren't the same as other teams though. The Yankees HAVE to have big name players. Even though the Rays for example are a better team, if the Yankees had that roster, there'd be war in the NY press and Yankee stadium would be empty.

They play by different standards. Having big name players is much more important to them than it is to the Oriols or Blue Jays.

The Yankees seem quite happy to overpay a player on the 75/25 chance that he's successful for a few years and when he's rubbish in year 5 of the deal and they're still paying him $20m, they'll worry about that then.

You know what Yankees fans like even more than expensive free agents?

Winning.

The Red Sox and many other teams have shied away from the "Carl Crawford deal" - even teams that can easily afford them - because they're bad baseball.

Defending bad baseball on the basis that certain teams' fans are too stupid to appreciate a winning strategy is... Well... Dubious.

Most fans want rings a LOT more than they want an overplayed team of losers - and that includes Yankees fans.

jack presley · 05-12-2013 4:46pm

MilanPan!c wrote: »

You know what Yankees fans like even more than expensive free agents?

Winning.

The Red Sox and many other teams have shied away from the "Carl Crawford deal" - even teams that can easily afford them - because they're bad baseball.

Defending bad baseball on the basis that certain teams' fans are too stupid to appreciate a winning strategy is... Well... Dubious.

Most fans want rings a LOT more than they want an overplayed team of losers - and that includes Yankees fans.

With the exception of last year's Red Sox, most other teams that fit the winning formula were built from within over a number of years. If you said to a Yankees fan that they were going to build a winning team but it'll take 5-6 years with restocking the farm system etc. he'd throw you off Brooklyn bridge!

Of course Yankees fans want to win but they want to win now. Look at the last time they didn't make the playoffs. They went out and spent millions on Sabathia, Burnett and Texeria. There was no patience shown then.

MilanPan!c · 05-12-2013 4:59pm

jack presley wrote: »

With the exception of last year's Red Sox, most other teams that fit the winning formula were built from within over a number of years. If you said to a Yankees fan that they were going to build a winning team but it'll take 5-6 years with restocking the farm system etc. he'd throw you off Brooklyn bridge!

Of course Yankees fans want to win but they want to win now. Look at the last time they didn't make the playoffs. They went out and spent millions on Sabathia, Burnett and Texeria. There was no patience shown then.

I think you're not only wrong, but demonstrably so.

In the last decade the Yankees have spent more money than god on free agents... In the same time period, their tv ratings have dropped, precipitously.

On the other hand, teams like the Kansas City Royals, whose salary is 120M LESS than the Yankees have seen huge increases in viewership.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2013/09/30/Media/MLB-ratings.aspx

There's NO connection between a team spending zillions on dozens of over paid free agents and a teams popularity... in fact, back before the Red Sox dumped all of their salary to the Dodgers their viewership was collapsing... Because they weren't winning.

Winning teams have fans... that's the bottom line.

And the TV viewership numbers back that up.

The 2013 Sox (and many teams before them) managed to WIN rings without padding Scot Boras' bank account. The Yankees fans know this and are a lot more patient (the real baseball fans among them) than you give them credit for. Indeed, the fly by night fans would be MORE interested if they were winning, no matter the names on the jerseys.

In summary: the idea that you can build long term interest in a losing team, by simply spending a lot of money on losing teams is demonstrably untrue. On the other hand, teams that win, no matter the salary, are almost universally popular. And. Long term contracts for players with known injury history, who have already lot their ability to drive the ball... they're stupid and they won't help the team - as a rule.

jack presley · 05-12-2013 5:05pm

MilanPan!c wrote: »

I think you're not only wrong, but demonstrably so.

In the last decade the Yankees have spent more money than god on free agents... In the same time period, their tv ratings have dropped, precipitously.

On the other hand, teams like the Kansas City Royals, whose salary is 120M LESS than the Yankees have seen huge increases in viewership.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2013/09/30/Media/MLB-ratings.aspx

There's NO connection between a team spending zillions on dozens of over paid free agents and a teams popularity... in fact, back before the Red Sox dumped all of their salary to the Dodgers their viewership was collapsing... Because they weren't winning.

Winning teams have fans... that's the bottom line.

And the TV viewership numbers back that up.

The 2013 Sox (and many teams before them) managed to WIN rings without padding Scot Boras' bank account. The Yankees fans know this and are a lot more patient (the real baseball fans among them) than you give them credit for. Indeed, the fly by night fans would be MORE interested if they were winning, no matter the names on the jerseys.

In summary: the idea that you can build long term interest in a losing team, by simply spending a lot of money on losing teams is demonstrably untrue. On the other hand, teams that win, no matter the salary, are almost universally popular. And. Long term contracts for players with known injury history, who have already lot their ability to drive the ball... they're stupid and they won't help the team - as a rule.

Everyone knows that long term big money contracts are stupid but teams keep giving them. Why? Because they want short term success.

I'm not a Yankees fan but do listen to a lot of NY sports radio and if you think I'm demonstratively wrong, you should hear what the nutters on phone ins over there have to say.

What you are saying might be logical but New Yorkers are a different breed to the rest of us!

MilanPan!c · 05-12-2013 5:43pm

jack presley wrote: »

Everyone knows that long term big money contracts are stupid but teams keep giving them. Why? Because they want short term success.

I'm not a Yankees fan but do listen to a lot of NY sports radio and if you think I'm demonstratively wrong, you should hear what the nutters on phone ins over there have to say.

What you are saying might be logical but New Yorkers are a different breed to the rest of us!

I lived in Boston for a decade and spent every weekend - more or less - in NYC for the better part of 6 years... On top of that I have been to Yankees stadium and Fenway numerous times and have friends - good friends - that are Yankees fans... on top of all of that I grew up watching the Cardinals... I know a lot of about baseball fans, and Yankees fans... I don't think you should judge your opinion of them based on sports radio.

Saying that - it is - or has been - perceived wisdom - that you can simply buy short term gains, but the truth is that that ONLY works if you do it all at once (i.e. buy a team of superstars) and ALSO get lucky... but of course, you can get just as lucky without spending 200M on players, and without leaving your team in a massive financial pit.

I think that fewer teams are going to spend on long term contracts, unless it's on something proven, a Dustin Pedroia for example, or a Derek Jeter.

Boras and a few other people have REALLY distorted the market and the Sox Yankees arms race has certainly played into his hands... or course the Sox seems to have walked away from that game... so... who knows how much longer this bubble will last - and it is a bubble.

jack presley · 05-12-2013 7:22pm

MilanPan!c wrote: »

I lived in Boston for a decade and spent every weekend - more or less - in NYC for the better part of 6 years... On top of that I have been to Yankees stadium and Fenway numerous times and have friends - good friends - that are Yankees fans... on top of all of that I grew up watching the Cardinals... I know a lot of about baseball fans, and Yankees fans... I don't think you should judge your opinion of them based on sports radio.

.

So after all this, why do you think the Yankees overpaid for Ellsbury?

MilanPan!c · 05-12-2013 8:15pm

jack presley wrote: »

So after all this, why do you think the Yankees overpaid for Ellsbury?

For a variety of reasons:

- He's 30 - in 6 years the chances of him being worth 20M+/year are almost non-existent, as his main attribute is speed. This means that he's really being paid a LOT more than 20M a year for a few years. He's certainly not worth that.

- He's injury prone and his power is fading... fast!

The Yankees are taking a somewhat similar risk. Ellsbury, 30, is a dynamic player who finished second in the American League MVP voting in 2011, hitting .321 with 32 home runs and 105 RBIs.

But in the two years since, Ellsbury has hit 13 home runs and driven in 79 runs over 880 at-bats. Going back to 2010, Ellsbury has played in 384 of a possible 648 regular-season games, only 59 percent.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/12/04/jacoby-ellsbury-leaves-red-sox-for-yankees-and-seven-year-million-deal/mr4YoxqxcgtC05naoRVJNI/story.html

So you're only paying for about 60% attendance, for maybe 4 years of top performance... at that rate you're paying him so far over the mark as to be laughable... if you're a Red Sox fan... if you're a Yankees fan, all you can do is despair at the "Celtic Tiger" that seems to hold the purse strings of the Yankees.

It's this sort of magical thinking that created the 2013 team.

Consider this: The Yankees spent 200M in 2013, on players (276M on players and other salaries) - for that they finished 4th, and 12 GB from the Sox.

If that doesn't convince you, consider that the Yankees will be (probably) paying A Rod 20M for the next FOUR years.

They'll also be paying Teixeira and Sabathia 20M for three out of the next four years.

In 2015 the Yankees will be paying 80m for Teixeira, Sabathia, Ellsbury and A Rod. That's four players.

They carry about 35 players on their salary at any given point. They paid 200M total last year.

Between 2003 and 2013, they've won one World Series, and in the same time they've spent close to 2 BILLION in salary.

The Red sox have spent between 20 - 80M LESS, PER YEAR, and have won three times in the same period.

You can't buy rings.

jack presley · 05-12-2013 8:24pm

MilanPan!c wrote: »

For a variety of reasons:

- He's 30 - in 6 years the chances of him being worth 20M+/year are almost non-existent, as his main attribute is speed. This means that he's really being paid a LOT more than 20M a year for a few years. He's certainly not worth that.

Which is exactly the point I've been making all along. Big name player for (hopefully for them) short term success!

MLB: 2013-2014 Off-season - Pre-season

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