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Posted By: <b>Jon Canfield</b><p>Unbelievable - $423.5 million on 3 players... However, I am a Yankee fan so I'm happy with the signing. I just hope I can afford to attend games still!<br><br>==================================== ==<br>

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Posted By: <b>Rob D.</b><p><i>we are neither surprised nor amused</i>

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Another reason why I collect baseball cards, but am absolutely turned off by the current system. Buying playoff appearances and titles only lead to empty World Series titles....who cares? My Orioles could completely dismantle and build a world class farm system and still get out bought in the end. A complete sham and disgrace is major league baseball. Until a hard salary cap is instituted, I will never go to another game or even listen to one.<br><br>James

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Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>You non- Yankee fans can whine all you want. So far, the Yankee's payroll is still about $7-8 million UNDER last year! (Although they have offered Pettitte $10.0 million<br><br><br><br>They have used the expiring contracts of Giambi ($23.4 million), Abreu ($16.0 million), Pettitte ($16.0 million), Mussina ($11.0 million) and Pavano ($11.0 million). I hope the current expendititures work out a little better. <br><br><br><br>Time to renew my DirectTV MLB package. <br><br><br><br>Edited to add - James, I understand your frustration but Baltimore was actually Texeira's favored team and their offer was competitive. He didn't go there because he didn't feel they were serious about winning, not because the Yankees offered more money. If you want to &quot;fix&quot; the Orioles, look first at the incompetent ownership.

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Posted By: <b>Richie</b><p>Instead of the Yankees buying free agents. Wouldn't be cheaper for them to purchase the Tampa Bay Rays

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Posted By: <b>rand</b><p>that post is freakin' funny. bravo! my only problem with the yanks and these free agents is the fact they are not worth that money. texeira getting 22.5m a year is a joke. he's not going to be a HOFer. what would these guys be getting if the Yanks were not in the picture. certainly not that much and that many years.

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Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>Objective odds are they aren't going to win the World Series this year either.

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Posted By: <b>Jason L</b><p>If baseball went the way of Socialism and concentrated on an equalized distribution of resources, we wouldn't have innovation and change that often results from participants trying to gain competitive advantage.<br><br><br><br>For example, we wouldn't have the evolution of strategic thought that has risen from the efforts and talents of Bill James and Billy Beane. Without incentive, there is no effort.<br><br><br><br>James, if you want real frustration, perhaps you should try switching over to become a Cubs fan. That is real failure. -because on Chicago's North Side, there has been deep pockets for decades, but accompanied by an aversion to spending money, in combination with at any given time, truly inept management, coaching, and player development!<br><br><br><br>edited for grammar<br>

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Posted By: <b>David Goff</b><p>If he was serious of winning, do you think he should have stayed with the Angels? Unless he only wanted to play for a east coast team, the Angels are going to competitive. So now I wonder if the Yankess will still go after Manny. Might as well since they have signed just about every big money player this off season.

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Posted By: <b>Anonymous</b><p>Rand, <br><br><br><br>You're wrong on a couple of points. <br><br><br><br>1. He's not worth it? The Orioles offered 7 years and $140 million. Washington offered 8 years and $160 million. Boston offered 8 years $170 million. The Yankees offer was in the same range - 8 years, $180 million. They didn't overpay, nor did they set the market. <br><br><br><br>2. HOF? I'd hate to predict HOF for any 28 year old with just 6 years in the league, but his season averages are for 36 HRs and 121 RBIs. In addition, he has two Golden Glove awards (and didn't get consideration the last two years because he changed leagues both years.) If he continues those same hitting numbers he'll be at nearly 500 HRs and 1700 RBIs when this contract expires. And he'll be only 36. Those numbers would merit HOF consideration. <br><br><br><br><br><br>David C, <br><br><br><br>Won't win? Probably won't. I go into every season assuming three starters will blow out their arm, two position players will destroy their hamstrings, and one power hitting first baseman will decide he can only DH from now on. <br><br><br><br>I was actually expecting them to sign Mark Prior and trade for Big Papi!<br><br><br><br><br><br><img src="/images/happy.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="happy.gif"> <img src="/images/happy.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="happy.gif"> <img src="/images/happy.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="happy.gif"><br><br>

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Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>David G., <br><br>He actually told the Angels, during the season, that he wanted to be on an East coast team. I assumed it would be Baltimore, because that's home to him.

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Believe me, I am 100% thoroughly disgusted and appalled with Baltimore's management. However, I also realize that the uneven playing field that exists in major league baseball does not appeal to me anymore. I have been leaning on following only University of Arkansas athletics and the NFL for a long time now. This one decision, makes that decision so much easier for me. Major League Baseball as it stands is almost as competetive as professional wrestling and until a hard salary cap is instituted, I will not be back....ever.

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Posted By: <b>Rich Klein</b><p>to some friends that Tex would go to the Yankees for 8/136. Nice job by Mr. Boras to add that extra 44 Million.<br><br>And this deal makes sense for the Yankees.<br><br>Get Tex for the prime and just beyond of his career and fill up a gaping hole. The Yankees moves make sense and be ready for a fun year in the AL BEAST<br><br>Rich

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Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>One thing positive about the NFL is that the Green Bays and Tampa Bays not only can win the Super Bowl, they do win the Super Bowl.

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Posted By: <b>Al</b><p>Hal is obviously on a buying binge, never to be embarrased like last year's Yankee collapse. I hope they get MANRAM as well and spend a zillion dollars to get him and everyone else.<br><br>I don't blame the Boras types, he's in it for all the coin he can haul to the bank, as are the players. However, it's the fans who continue to shell out their hard earned dollars to watch the spectacle. After all, it's America's passtime. Go before you have to cash in your 401k (what's left of it) to see a game.<br><br>Oh, BTW, money does not buy or ensure performance, particularly when it is up front and guaranteed. Just ask the Braves about Mike Hampton. MLB contracts should provide for an ample salary, commensurate with stats and years of service, then let them be rife with clauses payable upon end of year stats. <br><br>Red Sox Nation says...see you in October.

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Posted By: <b>Alan U</b><p>The Yankees still have so many problems and some of the other A.L. teams are still so good that this doesn't ensure the Yankees a playoff appearance, much less a championship. They are basically forced to overpay for these free agents to justify their new stadium ticket prices. As far as I'm concerned, the more teams beef up their payroll costs, the more fun it is to see them fail.

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Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>James, <br><br>Please don't get me wrong. I think the playing field isn't financially even. But I don't think that correlates to winning. If it did, you'd never see a Philly-Tampa World Series. <br><br>The Yankees have more income (north of $250 million or so), because of a bigger fan base and better TV contracts, and I'd rather see that money end up in the hands of the players than the owners. You can't put in a hard salary cap unless you could void all local TV money and run it like the NFL. In that case the money would dry up because there are no national ratings until the Playoffs. <br><br>This way, the Yankees are a better team, but there are no guarantees they will win anything. Every team in baseball has a chance to win with young talent. Witness Tampa Bay.

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Ha! It ain't home to Tex anymore. Judging by the lynch mob forming on the Orioles fan boards, Tex is fourth in line behind Angelos, McPhail and Boras. His Maryland citizenship is about to be revoked <img src="/images/happy.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="happy.gif"> Thanks for allowing me to vent folks. I know myself well enough that I will ammend most of what I say <img src="/images/happy.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="happy.gif"><br><br><br><br>Jim VB: Buying talent may not win titles, but more often that not, it allows for participation in the postseason. Big markets don't need farm systems as the rest of MLB are their feeders.<br><br><br><br><br><br>James

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Posted By: <b>Jason</b><p>The only things impervious to a bad economy:<br><br>Porn, the mafia, and the New York Yankees.

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Posted By: <b>Steve F</b><p>Yankees, the best team money can buy.<br><br>Didn't Hank recently go back to the city for more dough?<br><br>

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Posted By: <b>Greg Theberge</b><p>Jason,<br><br>Aren't those three one in the same?<br><br>Greg

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Posted By: <b>Greg Theberge</b><p>Something messed up, double post, sorry

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Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>Jason, <br><br><br><br>Great quote. You should credit Silvio, however. <br><br><br><br><br><br>And I believe it was something like &quot;...certain aspects of the entertainment industry, and this thing of ours.&quot; He obviously forgot about the Yanks.

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Posted By: <b>Ricky Y</b><p>Not suprising at all. Sports Illustrated wrote about the new Yankee stadium and I remember it predicted that they would go hard after Texeria and Sabathia.<br><br>If they resign Pettite and Wang can come back strong..they will have addressed a big weakness...the Evil Empire will be heard from next year like it or not. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="happy.gif"><br><br>Ricky Yo

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Posted By: <b>quan</b><p>why is it every time the yankees do something we need to hear about it here? <br><br>where's the rest of the kc fan? are we concerned management is bringing yet another low obp guy like mike jacobs onto the roster? i don't think that address some of our bigger concerns. will jose guillen be traded?<br><br>p.s. mark grudzielanek means more to kc than jeter to the yankees?<br><br>pps brilliant move by yankees to finally sign a clean slugger in his prime

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Posted By: <b>Marty Ogelvie</b><p>Did He actually SIGN or agree to a number? After the Furcal/Braves fiasco, i'm a bit skeptical when I hear news like this.<br><br>marty

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Posted By: <b>TONY Galovich</b><p>I am a lifelong Yankee fan<br>BUT<br>If Baseball had salary limits like the NFL<br>the Yankees would have one of the worst teams in baseball every yr<br>How many games would they win with a $80 million $$ team payroll?<br>Not many<br>Some of the players they sign are horrible &amp; with injuries<br>they have mediocre teams &amp;<br>we can see in the last few yrs spending big $$$ is NOT a guarantee<br>to win the World Series<br>Get a New G.M.<br>&amp; quit signing overpriced free agents

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>I'm in NY and excited by what the Yankees have done -- but it is an absolute disgrace. It's not their fault because they're playing by the rules that exist today -- and the Sox, another rich team, would have had him if the Yankees didn't. But unlike the Tampa Bay Rays, who cannot afford to make a mistake on a player that they pay plenty for, the Yankees keep getting mulligans over and over. And the Yankees have no problem bilking NYC over money/stadium issues -- and then use our tax money to overpay players. Just disgusting.

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Posted By: <b>John K</b><p>The Yankees seem to have made pigs of themselves again. An old, old story.

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Posted By: <b>Joseph</b><p>Don't you fellows realize that there are eight-year-old boys who've not yet experienced a Yankee championship? That's unbearable hardship that the organization is addressing here.

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Posted By: <b>Fred C</b><p>I hate to say this but the NFL has a much better product than MLB. <br><br>MLB just sucks when it comes to trying to create parity in the league. This is one reason why a lot of people just love to see the yankees eat crap and die with those huge salaries. There was a time when a yankee hater was someone that appreciated the raw talent of the team. Now it's a different reason to hate the yankees. They are able to spend the most on the team salary and that doesn't lend to creating parity in the league where every team can't spend huge dollars and have a chance to improve and become a contender. That only leads to people hating that team because they are the &quot;haves&quot; (and no the &quot;have nots&quot;) and they don't care if anybody is offended by it.

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Fred, I agree re NFL v. MLB but let's be honest: football is way more exciting than baseball anyway.<br><br>And again, I don't blame the Yankees, they're just doing what they're permitted to do. Any team with those kind of assets who wouldn't exploit them would get blasted even more. At least no one can claim that the Yankee owners don't do everything they can to win.

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>I have never been a Yankee fan and every year root against the Bronx Bombers and for underdog teams that I identify with. After long being a Mets fan, I now also root against them as they follow a strategy of buying high priced free agents.<br><br>Thus, I am delighted with this move. First, it makes the Yankees even more unlikable to me. Second, I love the system that allows teams to spend on free agents. I have become disenchanted with pro football and basketball due to the salary caps. If a team wants to spend $200 million on players great--capitalism at work. <br><br>

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Despite the profligate spending by the Yankees, there really is parity in the league. A different team wins the championship or pennant each year, and often it is a smaller market one.<br><br>If the Yankees don't win it all in 2009, there is no sympathy for them. And if they do win it all with their quarter billion dollar payroll, then they are just boring.<br><br>It's a lose-lose proposition.

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Posted By: <b>jdrum</b><p>take the field.

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Posted By: <b>Rob</b><p>i thought i read somewhere that the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement is due to expire soon, so in the near future there might not be a salary cap for a couple seasons?

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Posted By: <b>Mike</b><p>The Yankees are a 20th Century Team. No World Series Wins in the 21st Century.<br><br>Teixeira could maybe just be the top switch-hitter of all-time before his career is over. He is probably already in the top ten. He has a way to go, my top three are ( Mantle,Murray and Rose).

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Posted By: <b>Todd Schultz</b><p>Jim, I'd have to disagree that this is capitalism at work, or if it is, it is far from the best example. Capitalism presupposes profit as the raison d'etre, and here the Yankees' objective is less profit motivated as it is ego motivated. The two are not mutually exclusive, of course, but Steinbrenner is more concerned with winning than gaining profit. In fact, the true capitalists in MLB, i.e. those who look primarily to make profit, are usually chewed up by the fans and media as in it for the wrong reasons. <br><br><br><br>Capitalism exists in many forms, but is widely viewed as market driven, with risk association and, generally, with competition as the driving force. Here, as has been said, there is gross inequality of resources caused more by local geography and population centers than any business acumen. The Yankees face little risk because of their vast advantage in these resources. Taxes imposed against them, in effect a penalty designed to discourage them from taking advantage of their resources, are also of little effect. Also, in a true capitalistic model, someone could enter the New York market and try to build a better team than what is there. Of course, baseball's oligopoly will not allow that, and these things, combined with baseball's antitrust exemption, make baseball in general and the Yankees in particular as less than a glowing example of capitalism at work, IMO.

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Posted By: <b>Phil</b><p>There were only 2 teams last year that had to pay a luxury tax.....NY Yankees &amp; Detroit Tigers...neither made the playoffs.<br><br>Teixeira is far, far from a HOF right now. In this age of bloated offensive numbers, he is no different than a ton of players.<br><br>My prediction: CC Sabathia - no more than 15 wins....gets hurt. Not a big market, big time player.<br><br>For the record: I am a Red Sox fan.

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>I think forced parity in sports is a bad thing. Football was the most interesting when the Packers were dominant. Basketball was the most interesting during the Celtics long run. Teams ought to be allowed to succeed and fail on their own and not be limited in how much they can or can't spend to field a team.

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Posted By: <b>CN</b><p>Good for them I guarantee they will be sold out every game this year. Why make a ton of money if you can,t spend it. The Yankees print money. I am a Mets fan but being a New Yorker and a Champion of free enterprise why should the Yanks field an inferior team when they draw 4 million a year and have the YES Network raking in millions. Baseball is always better when the Yanks are good so you can root for them or hate them(like I do) CN

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Posted By: <b>Todd Schultz</b><p>those Packers and Celtics teams weren't built by owners being allowed to spend more than the next guy at all. If anything, they rewarded teams who were smart in drafting and trading. Modern baseball, by contrast and as others here have mentioned, allows the rich to make mistake after mistake and buy their way out of it.

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Posted By: <b>Bob Manning</b><p>Jim;<br><br>&quot;Teams ought to be allowed to succeed and fail on their own and not be limited in how much they can or can't spend to field a team.&quot;<br><br>That's why a salary cap, or some other form of equity producing system, is vital to the continuing success of all of MLB. By the way, how much can a team spend to &quot;field a team?&quot; Do teams field themselves? Hardly. <br><br>Plan until the revolution: <br><br>Every spring the Yankees will form up some kind of supersquad, spending quadrillions of dollars on every ballplayer capable of whistling and making a puddle at the same time. Then, on April 1, there will be a giant ticker tape parade down Broadway, just like when Joe D was here. All the world will be on hand to cheer. &quot;YAY!!! Yankees win again!!! Aren't they wonderful? Aren't all their fans wonderful too? Isn't New York wonderful?&quot; Then their season will be OVER, and the rest of the teams will play each other until a true champion emerges.<br><br>Sound fair? <br><br>Bob

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Bob,<br><br>Except that the rich don't always win.<br><br>I think the salary cap is one of the worst things to ever happen to professional sports.

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Posted By: <b>Daryle</b><p>I'm a life-long Yankee fan and I wouldn't pay Babe Ruth that kinda money...........nobody on Earth worth that kinda money

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Posted By: <b>Bob Manning</b><p>Damn! And they should win all the time, of course, being rich and all. That's why the plan I've outlined is so helpful. The Yankees (or any other team proclaiming greatness on the basis of monies expended) would succeed just by blowing away more loot than anybody else. The rich would win every time. What could be fairer?<br><br>Fun? What's that got to do with anything?<br><br>B

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Posted By: <b>john/z28jd</b><p> I think baseball should have a salary cap but it should be where the top 2 teams can actually spend to. If its 140 million then let it be there,just dont let some team go crazy and blow everyone else out of the water. If they cant put a great team together for 140 million then theyre obviously not fit to run a baseball organization.If the Yankees get a world series title with that kind of payroll they didnt win it,they bought it,its not the same thing. So anyone who says they think the Yankees will WIN the world series this year...its not possible.<br><br> I also love how everyone says,they have the money,then let them spend it. They have the money because they charge ridiculous prices for their tickets and everything in the stadium. I have a Pirates yearbook this year,it costs less than 1/3rd of the price of the Yankees but its printed on the same paper stock,same type and amount of content,why such a huge difference....because the Yankees love their fans more I guess and dont want them having the dilemma of what to do with their extra money.<br><br> Heres a better idea,spend wisely and keep some of that thrown away money in the fans pockets,you know,the people who support your bad habits. Yankee fans always make excuses for their team,but dont realize that half of them cant even afford to attend one game a year with their family because the team is so foolish with their spending.

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Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p>The part that I do not understand is...how much is too much and why are decisions made based exclusively on a small percentage of the money? In both instances, neither player wanted to play in New York. So basically Teixeira is making $2 million dollars a year to play for a team he would rather not play for. Over time, that is $20 million. How much is too much? When you add up a player's bank already, why not come to the conclusion that you will never spend all that bank and simply be happy. Sabathia wanted BADLY to play in the National League and on the West Coast. The Yankees, Cookie-Cookie, are in the American League and on the East Coast. <br><br>It is sick what the Yankees do each year but it gives us reasons to hate them. They haven't won a thing this millenium and teams with solid farm systems overlap them. Have you seen their farm system? Anyone see Adrian Hernandez lately? <br><br>Ian Kennedy? $30 and 3% interest per month... GHR! (inside shout out to Mr. 1956 PSA Registry Super Star).<br><br>This DOES NOT make them better. They still have Alex Rodriguez. Sabathia fills Mussina's spot. Burnett is undependable. Chamberlain is needed in a poor bullpen where they will once again rotate arms from Scranton. And once again, the Yankees will look up at both the Red Sox and Rays....(yawn)<br><br>Happy Holidays!<br><br>DJ

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Posted By: <b>Paul D</b><p>You can not blame Teixeira. You can however, easily blame Bud Selig, the players union and ALL the owners, for allowing the BS that is 'baseball' to continue. I can't remember who said it but I agree that 'a league is only a league when everyone is on the same field.'<br><br>Old George was once quoted as saying &quot;I am dead set against free agency, it can ruin baseball.&quot;<br><br>Then he promptly set out to prove it. And he did prove it.<br><br>And I guess we can also blame Bowie Kuhn, who should have forced him to sell the his stake in the Yankees after his guilty verdict in '74.<br><br>I just have to wonder if an admitted felon would still be allowed to keep a stake in an MLB team in today's world; even with the snake of Eden (Bud Selig) being in charge.<br>

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Paul, I agree with you -- it's not the Yankee ownership's fault: it's MLB's fault for allowing it to happen. At least the Yankee owners will do anything to win. A lot of the resentment here is, in fairness, sour grapes. You've got billionaire, penny-pinching owners that run their franchises like a business: profit over product. The Yankees just want to win; can't fault that.