SO OT: Yankees done, Mariners right behind them

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by freakhappy

I really believe that some of these teams pay some of these overrated players the amount of money they do because they will undoubtedly bring in revenue from avenues other than their on-field performance...or maybe it is just plain fan reputation. I believe winning is a top priority, but let's be real here...money has to be a priority for every team, but some teams might even prefer money to winning.

Huge point. If you re-ranked the teams based on $'s brought in per $ spent, some of the huge payrolls will certainly seem more valid.

For instance, average price per bobble head, per team, on ebay. I bet the Astros are near the bottom and the Yankees are at the top. Certainly a Jeter game-used item goes for more than the Altuve version.

[Runscott]

It seems to be a real spending advantage to be in one of the 'Central' divisions - not competing against Coastal big-spenders. And, with the exception of the A's and the Rangers, the bang for the buck also seems to be concentrated in Midwest. I was always told that overall, they were more educated in that part of the country.

[barrysloate]

Yankees have a habit of signing players to big contracts after they are past their prime. They are sitting with a whole lot of 35-40 year olds on the roster, and that does not bode well for the near future. They have to either start developing young talent and keeping it, or spending a little less money for younger players. They just spend money poorly. I knew before the season that they were a brittle team, and despite having a lot of talent on paper, that injuries were going to do them in.

[packs]

Signing Beltran was a huge mistake. McCann hasn't been too great and Mark Tex is awful.

There are some bright spots coming though. Severino and Lindgren should be pitching in NY soon barring injuries. I'm really glad they kept Gardner. Tanaka, Pineda, and Betances are all very young. Shane Green showed some promise.

Prado was a good trade. Him and Ellsbury are just 30. If they can resign Robertson they'll be back on track in terms of getting younger.

[packs]

That is a really good point. I think part of the Angels thinking in bringing in Pujols had to be that he'd hit his 500 homer as an Angel and most likely pick up his 3,000th hit as one too.

Yankees were thinking about Arod's milestones when they signed him too.

[freakhappy]

Originally Posted by packs

That is a really good point. I think part of the Angels thinking in bringing in Pujols had to be that he'd hit his 500 homer as an Angel and most likely pick up his 3,000th hit as one too.



Yankees were thinking about Arod's milestones when they signed him too.

I didn't think of this point...which is a really good one. Pujols will have spent the majority of his years with the Cardinals, but hit some major milestones with the Angels...definitely significant.

Barry, I was going to post about the Yankees poor spending habits, but must've forgot! I will never understand why they bring in guys like Stephen Drew or Kelly Johnson for the amount of money they do. These players are well passed their prime and haven't produced in a few years, so why knowingly bring in players that struggle to hit .200, that you know won't produce? Is the market that bad? They really do need to assess their farm clubs and the way they generate youngsters...it could relieve them of some of their poor signings.


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[Runscott]

Originally Posted by freakhappy

I will never understand why they bring in guys like Stephen Drew or Kelly Johnson for the amount of money they do.

Perhaps they are trying to re-capture some lost magic that New York City baseball has lost, and have no idea what the formula is.

[barrysloate]

The Yankees do seem to be snakebit because even their young guys get injured. Tanaka might have been their best signing in I don't know how long, and he's only 25. He is also one pitch away from Tommy John surgery and missing a whole season. I still think you have to go with youth.

Look at the Mets. Despite still being a poor overall team, with almost no offense, they have an incredible group of young arms playing or about to play, and I do think they have a bright future if they can somehow get some offense. It's very hard for an old team to stay healthy and produce.

[packs]

I think the Starlin Castro sweepstakes will come down to the Yankees and the Mets. Tough break for the Yankees because they could really use Castro. But I think the Mets have the arms to get the deal done.